Allied Health Professionals

There are all sorts of roles available within the allied health professions (AHP). You could take an X-ray, help with rehabilitation after a broken bone or assess and make recommendations for someone’s diet.

AHPs carry their own caseloads as autonomous professionals and work directly with patients to develop interactive therapies to aid recovery. They will also be part of a team, often leading them. This might mean working with other AHPs or professionals such GPs, hospital doctors, teachers and/or social workers.

Working in hospitals, clinics, housing services, people's homes, schools/colleges to name but few, AHPs see patients and clients in many different surroundings.

So whether you're interested in science, the arts or physical movement you're bound to find a role to suit you. And whichever profession you choose you’ll be taking on roles which ‘enable’ and ‘empower’ people, making a big difference to patient care.

Please note: AHPs and Healthcare Science are grouped slightly different in England and Wales. If you would like information on radiographers or operating department practitioners, please see Our healthcare science pages.

Art therapist

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of expression and communication.

Music therapist

Music therapy is an established psychological clinical intervention, which helps people whose lives have been affected by injury, illness or disability through supporting their psychological, emotional, cognitive, physical, communicative and social needs.

Drama therapist

Dramatherapy is a form of Psychotherapy, where Dramatherapists draw on their knowledge of theatre and therapy as a medium for psychological therapy.

Dietitian

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are the only qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems at an individual and wider public health level.

Occupational therapist

Occupational therapists help people of all ages to find ways to carry out the occupations that are important to them.

Orthoptist

Orthoptists are allied health care professionals who specialise in the assessment of visual function, particularly in children, diagnosing and treating defects in eye movement and problems with how the eyes work together.

Orthotists

Paramedic

Paramedics are clinically trained autonomous practitioners who have the knowledge, skills and clinical expertise to assess, treat, diagnose and are able to provide pain relief and other medication.

Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists support people to stay independent for as long as possible. They assist recovery by helping to restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability.

Practitioner Psychologists

Prosthetists

Podiatrist

Podiatry is a medical and podiatric needs led service for patients of all ages. Podiatrists primarily treat individuals who have an underlying illness or condition that put their legs and feet at increased risk of injury, compromised tissue viability and/or pain and loss of function.

Speech and language therapist

Speech and language therapists (SLT) provide life-changing treatment, support and care for children and adults who have difficulties with communication, or with eating, drinking and swallowing.

Clinical Associate in Applied Psychology (CAAP)