Is It Risky to Leave the NHS for a Job with a Medical Technology Provider?
For many professionals working in NHS radiotherapy – whether as a therapeutic radiographer (radiotherapist), dosimetrist, clinical technologist, or clinical scientist/medical physicist – the idea of moving into an industry role can feel daunting.
The NHS offers security, a clear career structure, and pension benefits. Industry roles, by comparison, may seem less predictable – with different employers, different cultures, and less visible long-term progression pathways. But is it really risky to make the move? Or could it actually be a career step worth considering?
Why NHS experience is so valued in industry
Radiotherapy is highly specialised, and your knowledge is unique. Whether your expertise lies in patient set-up, imaging, treatment planning, quality assurance, commissioning, or advanced physics calculations, you bring first-hand clinical understanding that technology companies simply cannot replicate internally.
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Radiotherapists understand real-world workflows, patient positioning, and how treatment rooms run.
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Dosimetrists bring deep knowledge of treatment planning systems, dose optimisation, and contouring.
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Clinical technologists are skilled in QA, maintenance, and technical implementation.
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Clinical scientists/medical physicists contribute advanced problem-solving, commissioning expertise, and safety oversight.
These skills are directly relevant to two of the most common career paths in industry:
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Applications roles – training, implementation, and ongoing support for radiotherapy systems.
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Medical sales roles – consultative, relationship-driven positions promoting advanced technologies to clinical teams.
In short, you speak the same language as NHS radiotherapy teams – making you a credible, trusted bridge between clinicians and technology providers.
The reality of “risk”
Yes, industry roles can involve a different type of job security. Company performance and product success can influence long-term stability. But the truth is, radiotherapy professionals in these roles are often business-critical – especially in sales, applications, and technical support. Without you, the technology cannot be effectively sold, implemented, or supported.
Your skill set is in demand in both the NHS and industry. If you moved into an industry role and decided it wasn’t for you, it’s usually straightforward to return to the NHS – your expertise remains highly sought after, and many employers value the additional perspective you’d bring from working on the technology side.
Potential benefits of moving to industry
While every situation is different, some common advantages include:
- Salary uplift – Industry salaries can be significantly higher than NHS bands, especially when combined with bonuses, sales commissions, or car allowances.
- Variety – Working with multiple hospitals or trusts, each with different workflows and equipment setups.
- Greater autonomy – More freedom to plan your schedule, manage your own territory or projects, and decide how best to meet your objectives.
- Professional development – Access to vendor-specific training, international conferences, and exposure to the latest innovations before they reach clinics.
- Broader impact – Helping to shape how radiotherapy is delivered on a national or even global scale.
Medical sales: not what you might think
If you’ve never been in sales before, you might picture cold calls or hard selling – but that’s not how medical sales works in radiotherapy and oncology technology. It’s consultative and highly technical. You’ll be:
- Building relationships with physicists, radiographers, dosimetrists, and oncologists.
- Demonstrating how technology solves real clinical problems.
- Working closely with applications specialists to ensure smooth implementation.
Your credibility as a former NHS professional is a major asset – customers are more likely to trust someone who has been in their shoes.
Questions to ask yourself
If you’re considering a move, it’s worth reflecting:
- Am I being fully challenged and valued in my current role?
- Is my skill set being used to its fullest potential?
- Could I progress faster, earn more, or gain wider experience outside the NHS?
- Would I enjoy influencing how technology is used in many different centres, rather than just one?
- Could I see myself enjoying a role where I’m part educator, part problem-solver, and part ambassador for new technology?
Final Thoughts: A Career Move Worth Exploring
Whether you’re a radiotherapist, dosimetrist, technologist, or physicist, moving from the NHS to industry isn’t necessarily a gamble – it can be a way to accelerate your career, broaden your impact, and gain experiences that simply aren’t available in one hospital department.
And if you try it and decide it’s not for you? You’ll be returning to the NHS with even more experience, skills, and insight – making you an even stronger candidate than before.
Thinking About Making the Move?
At Helix Medical Recruitment, we’ve helped many radiotherapy professionals take this step successfully, supporting them with honest, tailored advice every step of the way.
If you’d like to explore your options, we can help you assess them confidentially and without obligation.
Contact us for a confidential conversation about your options.
Author: Jamie Ruffle
Date: 14 April 2025.
Updated 11 August 2025.
