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Critical care technologist
Hours
37.5 per week
Starting salary
£21,200 + per year
WorkDesc
The work
Critical care technologists (CCTs) make sure the equipment used in the care of critically ill patients is safe, effective and used properly. CCTs may also be known by other titles, such as intensive care unit technicians.
As a CCT, your main duties would focus on making sure the equipment and technology needed to support organ function and maintain life is working and being used correctly. Your job would combine expert knowledge of technology and physiology with patient care. Your work could also include:
- setting up equipment, connecting patients and monitoring the machinery as it is being used
- carrying out regular maintenance checks of intensive care equipment and bedside technical support
- working with other healthcare professionals during life threatening events
- advising and training medical staff on the use of equipment
- negotiating with medical sales representatives
- ordering equipment such as medical gases and fluids from the pharmacy
- processing invoices, updating records and other routine administration tasks
- managing the on-call rotas and work of other staff
- transferring patients
- researching, developing, evaluating and introducing new treatments and technologies.
The type of equipment you would work with includes:
- blood analysers that measure biochemical factors
- dialysis systems that divert blood through a circuit outside the body
- ventilators that help patients breathe
- haemofiltration and other life support machinery
- defibrillators and monitors that measure vital body functions, such as heart rate and brain activity
- infusion pumps and syringe drivers that deliver drugs to patients.
HoursDesc
Hours
You would typically work 37.5 hours a week, including shifts and an on-call system.
Some of your work could involve handling hazardous chemicals and substances, so you may need to wear protective overalls, coats, gloves, glasses and a mask at times.
You would work alongside doctors, nurses and other medical staff (such as physiotherapists, dietitians and pharmacists), often in pressurised and emotionally challenging conditions. You would have a large amount of contact with very sick patients and distressed relatives.
IncomeDesc
Income
- Starting salaries can be between £21,200 and £27,500 a year
- Advanced practitioners and managers may earn up to £40,200.
Salaries can vary between NHS Trusts. Pay in the private sector may be linked to NHS scales but could be higher.
Additional payments may be made for working overtime, or an on-call rota. Those living in London will also usually receive an additional allowance.
Figures are intended as a guideline only.
EntryRequirementsDesc
Entry requirements
You will usually need at least four GCSEs (A-C) in subjects such as maths, physics and biology. However, many employers will prefer you to have higher qualifications, such as:
- A levels, in subjects like maths, biology, physics and chemistry
- BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Applied Science (including units in physiology, medical physics and electronics).
Check with colleges or universities for course entry requirements.
It may be an advantage to have some relevant experience through paid or voluntary work, for example as a healthcare assistant in a hospital (contact the voluntary services coordinator or manager at your local NHS Trust).
State Registration
This area of work is moving towards state registration. Once you are working as a trainee CCT you can join the Voluntary Registration Council, which aims to help members prepare for this – check the Society of Critical Care Technologists (SCCT) website for details.
TrainingAndDevelopmentDesc
Training and development
As a trainee CCT, you will usually receive on-the-job training and this may be combined with part-time study for a relevant qualification such as the degree in clinical physiology (specialising in critical care technology) – available through the City of Westminster College, validated by Middlesex University.
If you already have a degree (in another subject) you could add to your work-based training by completing modules from the degree in clinical physiology (CCT) and professional exams set by the Society of Critical Care Technologists (SCCT).
As a member of the SCCT, you would have access to professional development opportunities and the Voluntary Register of CCTs (which will help you achieve state registration, when this is introduced).
SkillsAndKnowledgeDesc
Skills and knowledge
- an interest in electronics, science and medicine
- good levels of concentration
- the ability to work accurately and precisely when under pressure
- good teamworking skills
- a responsible attitude to work
- the confidence to speak in front of people and demonstrate the use of equipment
- the ability to cope with distressing situations
- good problem solving and decision making skills
- the ability and desire to learn new skills
- an understanding of technology and physiology
- the ability to empathise with patients, and put them at ease.
MoreInformationDesc
More information
NHS Careers 
PO Box 2311
Bristol
BS2 2ZX
Tel: 0345 60 60 655
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Society of Critical Care Technologists
www.criticalcaretech.org.uk
Health Learning and Skills Advice Line
Tel: 08000 150850
Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)
Fairmount House
230 Tadcaster Road
York
YO24 1ES
Tel: 01904 610821
www.ipem.ac.uk
OpportunitiesDesc
Opportunities
You would find most job opportunities within larger NHS hospitals. You may also be able to find work within the private healthcare sector.
With experience, you may be able to progress in your career from CCT to advanced practitioner, and then consultant CCT. Alternatively, you could move into a specialist field of critical care such as the liver and transplant work, cardiology, neurophysiology, burns, premature baby units, and respiratory physiology.
Jobs are advertised on the NHS Jobs website and you could also contact your local NHS Trust directly.
Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.
We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.
LMIData
Related industry information
Industry summary
The health sector is represented by Skills for Health Sector Skills Council, which comprises three sub‐sectors:
- National Health Service (NHS)
- Independent Healthcare Sector (such as private and charitable healthcare providers)
- Third Sector (healthcare) (such as small local community and voluntary groups, registered charities, foundations, trusts, social enterprises and co‐operatives)
The health sector is made up of hospitals, doctors’ surgeries, dental practices, the ambulance service, nursing homes, residential care homes, complementary medicine and a huge range of other health related activities, from sight tests in opticians to research in medical laboratories. Most people in the health sector work in the publicly funded National Health Service (NHS), which includes:
- primary care (organisations which the public goes to first) – Doctors/General Practitioners (GPs), NHS Walk in Centres, NHS Direct, Out of Hours Emergency Care
- secondary care (organisations which the public are referred onto) – Ambulance Trusts, NHS Trusts/hospitals, NHS Foundation Trusts/hospitals, Mental Health Trusts, Care Trusts (provide joint health and social care activities)
NHS policy in England is directed from the centre by the Department of Health. Local organisations, known as Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), are in charge of providing and commissioning services, controlling the majority of the budget. PCTs are overseen by 10 regional organisations called Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs).
The independent sector includes companies and charities that offer hospital and specialist services usually after referral from a doctor. Operations and other work are carried out in private hospitals, independent treatment centres, mental health units and hospices.
Key facts:
- The health sector is the largest employer in the UK, representing 5.5% of the working age population of the UK and 7.3% of the working age population that are currently in employment.
- It is estimated that the sector employs over 2 million people, including:
- over 1.5 million people in the NHS (72%)
- over 0.5 million people in the Independent Healthcare sector (26%)
- almost 40,000 in the voluntary sector (2%)
- 56% of the workforce has a higher education qualification (or equivalent).
- The age profile for the sector shows an older than average workforce, which is due in part to the fact that it takes some professions a long time to train and can mean that people enter the sector later.
There is a varied list of jobs in the sector ranging from a diverse number of clinical roles, to support and infrastructure staff, for instance: Allied Health Professionals (AHPs); Ambulance Staff; Dental Staff; Doctors/Medical staff; Nursing staff; Midwifery Staff; Healthcare Scientists; Health Informatics Staff; Management; Wider Healthcare Team; Complementary Therapists.
National and regional data
High proportions of the health sector workforce are located in:
- London
- South East
- North West
East Midlands - The health sector employs 131,515 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East Midlands employs 8% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 29% of all employment across the sector or 41,200 employees.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
East of England - The health sector employs 164,720 people, which accounts for 7% of all employment in the region.
- The East of England employs 9.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 52,300 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 14% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 103,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
London - The health sector employs over 249,524 people, which accounts for 6% of all the employment in the region.
- London employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 33% of all employment across the sector or 78,500 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 146,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North East - The health sector employs 89,201 people, which accounts for 8.7% of all employment in the region.
- The North East employs 5.3 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 23,800 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be almost 46,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
North West - The health sector employs 251,960 people, which accounts for 8% of all employment in the region.
- The North West employs 15% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 133,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South East - The health sector employs 264,071 people, which accounts for 7.1% of all employment in the region.
- The South East employs 15.7% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 23.5% of all employment across the sector or 59,200 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 164,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
South West - The health sector employs 182,187 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- The South West employs 10.8 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 30% of all employment across the sector or 60,700 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 12% of all Industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 105,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
West Midlands - The health sector employs 168,746 people, which accounts for 7.2% of all employment in the region.
- The West Midlands employs 10% of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 25% of all employment across the sector or 43,000 employees.
- Vacancies in the health and social work sector account for 9% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 108,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Yorkshire and the Humber - The health sector employs 182,848 people, which accounts for 8.2% of all employment in the region.
- Yorkshire and the Humber employ 10.9 % of the total health sector workforce for England.
- The private sector accounts for 24% of the total health care workforce or 42,000 employees.
- Vacancies in health and social work account for 11% of all industry vacancies.
- Between 2007 and 2017, the total requirement for workforce will be approximately 97,000 people. This is the total of the predicted expansion plus replacement demand.
Northern Ireland - The health sector employs 61,300 people.
- Northern Ireland employs 3% of the total health sector workforce.
- 81% of the workforce is female.
- 26% of the workforce is aged 35‐44 years.
- 96% of the workforce is white.
- 10% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 48% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Scotland - The health sector employs 201,500 people.
- Scotland employs 10% of the total health sector workforce.
- 78% of the workforce is female.
- 30% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 95% of the workforce is white.
- 14% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 39% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 23% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
Wales - The health sector employs 114,900 people.
- Wales employs 6% of the total health sector workforce.
- 74% of the workforce is female.
- 34% of the workforce is aged 45‐54 years.
- 94% of the workforce is white.
- 18% of the workforce reports a disability.
- 40% of the workforce is in Associate Professional and Technical occupations.
- 27% of organisations in the health and social work sector report vacancies.
[N.B. Data derived from Labour Force Survey, 2008‐2009, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007, and Northern Ireland Census of Employment, 2007]
Career paths
Further sources
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