Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust recently held two successful allied health professional (AHP) careers days, with the aim of spreading the word about lesser-known career pathways for young people who may be looking to join the NHS over the coming years.

A total of 58 students from local schools and colleges, and some professionals interested in a potential career change, joined staff to learn about 14 of the allied health professions, to participate in interactive activities and to shadow AHPs already working in Kingston and Richmond.

Local partners have since shared insight into how these sessions are having an impact on awareness of AHP roles and associated university applications.

Feedback from attendees has also been positive, with students from The Holy Cross School in New Malden sharing the following comments:

“I enjoyed the shadowing experience the most as it gave a real insight into how a hospital runs and the crucial roles that come together for a patient's recovery. It also provided me good understanding on what it takes to be an AHP and how important they are within the hospital and for the patient.”

“I shadowed the diagnostic radiographer and the ODP. My favourite part of this shadowing was seeing the radioactive machinery and learning how the radiographers use it to diagnose certain things.”