Medical & Dental
Doctors & Dentists working within hospital and community settings.
Doctors
Doctors are responsible for the diagnosis, care and treatment of illness and disease. They also have a role in protecting and improving people’s well-being.
The HSC in Northern Ireland employs doctors in a wide variety of hospital and community jobs, at all levels from junior doctor to Consultant.
The NI Medical & Dental Training Agency (NIMDTA) is responsible for recruiting junior rotational posts for each of the Trusts in Northern Ireland. However in the areas they are unable to recruit to, it is then the responsibility of the individual Trust to recruit to cover these ‘gaps’.
Training to be a doctor involves a long and demanding course of study. You will undertake a 5-year initial course of study, followed by extensive additional training in your chosen area of practice. It can take at least 10-12 years before a doctor is suitably qualified to practice as a consultant. Doctors must be registered with and regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC).
Within the practice of medicine, there are over 60 different specialties. Your medical training will give you the opportunity to discover which appeals to you most.
The HSC seeks to attract and appoint individuals of the highest calibre to all levels of post to ensure the provision of a highly competent medical workforce with the essential skills to meet the changing needs of the population and health and social care in Northern Ireland.
Dentists
Dentists are healthcare professionals who are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of a range of problems that affect the mouth and teeth.
Dentists provide a wide range of services, including:
- care and treatment of oral diseases;
- preventative treatments;
- oral health advice;
- emergency dental services;
- provision of dental appliances.
Dentists may also manage a team of people including dental nurses, dental hygienists, dental therapists and dental technicians.
The majority of dentists work in General Practice. However, many opportunities also exist within hospital and community settings. The HSC recruits Dental Officers for the Community Dental Service which provides direct patient care and preventive programmes to people who, because of their special needs, are unable to access appropriate dental services elsewhere.
Qualification as a Dentist requires a 5-year initial course of study, followed by further periods of additional training. Dentists must be registered with and regulated by the General Dental Council (GDC).