Working in the NHS

With over a million staff the National Health Service is the largest employer in Europe and has vacancies across the UK for nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, clinical scientists, administrators and support staff, plus a vast range of other allied health professionals and other specialist personnel.

In England the NHS is organised into Acute, Primary and Mental Health (often called Partnership) Trusts. In some areas Partnership Trusts have linked up with Social Services Departments to form Care Trusts. There is also a range of specialist and support organisations such as Strategic Health Authorities. In total there are over 600 separate organisations in England.

In Scotland the Trusts have been merged to form 15 Area Health Boards or Health Councils.
Wales still has Trusts but these then provide all of the health services in a particular area (i.e. primary, acute and mental health) whilst in Northern Ireland they have a network of Health & Social Care Trusts in which they combine the delivery of health and social services.

Finally throughout the UK there is a massive network of independent practitioners such as GP, Dentists, Opticians and Pharmacists who work together with the larger organisations to make up the National Health Service. Each of these many organisations is responsible for recruiting their own staff. This web-site, which has no links with the Department of Health, or any of the national NHS bodies, is provided to support a number of these organisations. If you represent an NHS employer you can find out more about advertising on this site by clicking here.