A rewarding career in medical equipment management: Ryan’s inspiring Modern Apprenticeship story

What is the medical equipment management service?

The service repairs and maintains medical equipment so it can be used to diagnose and treat patients efficiently and safely. This includes simple digital thermometers through to more complex anaesthetic machines. All medical equipment is essential to delivering high-quality patient care.

Discovering a career in medical equipment management

From a young age, Ryan was interested in a career as an engineer. After gaining qualifications in math, science, and technical subjects at college, he applied for an apprenticeship in medical equipment management.

Ryan found the apprenticeship opportunity with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde listed on the apprenticeships.scot website.

Find out more about the role of a clinical technologist in medical physics.

Clinical practitioner technologist apprenticeship programme

The clinical practitioner technologist apprenticeship at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is a 4-year programme. Ryan is learning practical skills so he can:

• run diagnostic tests on medical equipment
• communicating with staff and company representatives to collect information about the equipment when investigating faults
• repair faulty equipment and carry out planned maintenance
• manage equipment records in the department database
• advise clinical and medical staff on medical equipment purchases

Ryan is being supported by qualified medical physics clinical technologists throughout the programme.

What’s a typical day like?

Ryan’s skills and knowledge are constantly tested as an apprentice clinical practitioner technologist. He says, “Each day is different. There could be an equipment breakdown in endoscopy, which allows doctors to see inside your body. New devices must also be calibrated and set up ready for use.”

Ryan is based at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow, but he also works out in the community, in GP surgeries, health centres, and patients’ homes. He says, “Knowing that the equipment I work on in a patient’s home is helping their day-to-day life is rewarding.”

Earning qualifications

Ryan went to college full-time in the first year of his apprenticeship. In the second and third years, he will work in the medical equipment management service and go to college one day a week.

During the 4-year apprenticeship programme, Ryan will complete the following qualifications:

• Performing Engineering Operations at SCQF level 5
• Core Skills at SCQF Level 5
• Engineering Maintenance (Instrumentation) at SCQF level 7
• HND in Electronics at SCQF level 8
• Diploma in Healthcare Technology Management at SCQF level 9
• Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) Diploma in Clinical Technology at SCQF level 9

Find out more about apprenticeship pathways at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

Why you should consider an apprenticeship in the NHS

The clinical practitioner technologist apprenticeship programme allows Ryan to learn work-based skills for a career in the NHS. He explains, “Working at the NHS has made me realise that I like engineering. It is the career path I want to do.”

When Ryan completes his apprenticeship, he wants to continue his NHS career. He enjoys the work, there are good staff benefits, including holidays, and staff are well looked after.

Find out more about our Modern Apprenticeship opportunities.