The Irish Health service employs almost 120,000 people. In 2006 the Irish public will spend circa €17 billion on health services. Career opportunities exist for doctors, dentists, nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, dieticians, occupational therapists, speech therapists and social workers. Below are brief details on careers in physiotherapy, dentistry, occupational therapy, medicine and radiography.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapists are concerned with enhancing mobility and quality of life, and maximising potential. They are employed in sport facilities, private practice, hospitals, elderly care, universities and in industry. Their responsibilities include examining and diagnosing injuries, devising treatment plans, advising on injury prevention, performing manipulations and massage. Members of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists complete a degree programme at UCD, Trinity College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons, University of Limerick or the equivalent abroad. Basic grade physiotherapists start on a salary of €35,349.The starting salary of a newly qualified physiotherapist working in the NHS is circa £24,000.

Dentistry

Dentists use both preventive and restorative measures to treat problems that affect the mouth and teeth. Five-year degree programmes can be completed in Trinity College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast. Opportunities for graduates exist in general practice both in the public dental service or independently and once qualified it is possible to pursue a specialisation. Career opportunities also exist within dental hospitals or in lecturing.

Responsibilities include diagnosing, treating and preventing oral and dental disease and malformations, replacing teeth, performing surgical procedures and undertaking cosmetic procedures.

In the NHS as a House Officer, Year 1 a dentist would earn a basic salary of £25,882. A dentist in specialist training could earn from £29,000 to £44,000. In the Republic of Ireland a dentist in training (house officer) will start on a scale of between €36,396 and €51,595. A dental surgeon, clinical grade I will be on a salary scale of €47,686 - €50,744.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapists work with newborns, children, adolescents, adults and older people who have a temporary or permanent mental, physical or developmental difficulty. They are concerned with helping clients to develop, recover or maintain the skills needed to reach an optimum level of functioning. They are employed in hospitals, nursing care facilities, social services, industry and private practice. They are concerned with activities of daily living, home safety, leisure activities, community integration, equipment and environment modification.

Specific responsibilities include evaluating the functional capabilities of clients, developing intervention plans, using exercises to increase strength and dexterity, assisting with the development of premature babies and providing support and instruction to caregivers.

Occupational therapists in the public sector start on a salary of circa €35,000. In the NHS an Occupational Therapist Band 5 will earn between £19,000 and £24,000.

Radiography

Radiation has a primary role in medicine both in diagnosis and as a form of radiotherapy treatment. Trinity College Dublin offers a BSc (Hons) in Radiation Therapy and UCD offers a four-year BSc (Hons) in Radiography. Both are recognised for entry to the Irish Institute of Radiography. Once qualified employment prospects exist both in the health and private sector and postgraduate study in areas including ultrasound scanning, magnetic resonance imaging and mammography is undertaken by a number of graduates.

In the Republic of Ireland radiographers in the health service begin on a salary of between €33– €45,000, In the NHS a Band 5 radiographer will earn between £19,000– £24,000 per annum.

Doctor

Medicine is a five-year degree programme, at the end of which graduates complete a one year internship in a designated hospital. Following their year as an intern year junior doctors generally enter a specialised training scheme.

In the Health Services, hospital doctors are paid on a scale: intern €31,408; house officer €36,396– €51,595; registrar €47,613–€56,907. In the NHS a House officer will earn a basic salary of between circa £20,000– £23,000, Senior house officer between £25,000– £35,000 and a specialist registrar between £28,000– £43,000.

Note: Salary figures quoted are approximate and are for guideline purposes only.

Further information

For more information see the gradireland Psychology sector career guide, available to download from our Publications page.

Written by Caroline Kennedy, Careers & Opportunities Officer, National College of Ireland.