I'm a British subject who has lived in Australia for the last sixteen years and now feel it is time to go home. I gained my Electronics Engineering Degree in the UK and did my 'sandwich' year at Warrington Hospital EBME dept.. I have worked in the Bio-Medical field all of this time whilst over here, for the last eight yeas at a public hospital. What is the general view of the VRCT? I think, in principle it is a good thing - the industry was crying out for something like it, Australia is still. But, having had a look at their membership criteria, grandparenting particularly, I wonder if they go too far. How would I go looking for a job if I wasn't a member? - it is voluntary afterall. I am trying to join while still over here, before December, but they don't seem to have a contingiency for me. I don't want to have to do another degree to do the job I am already good at. To be fair, I contacted them and explained my situation - they suggested I get two very senior Clinical Technologists to vouch for me, but there are no guarantees...

Nice to see you making a post after all these years, Mark.

I wouldn't worry too much about VRCT. After all (and as you have already observed) the "V" stands for voluntary. You can always get yourself on the list if and when you have to become registered. Being able to demonstrate eligibility is what matters at present, as far as I can tell.

But - more importantly - I would strongly advise you to stay Down Under, Mate. I can't imagine why anyone would want to come back to the UK if they were already settled elsewhere. I certainly wouldn't.

Thank's Geoff for your reply.

We've enjoyed our stay here in Oz, but the draw to go back home just gets stronger by the day. There are so many good things about the UK that we miss - most small, which add up -far too many to list.

Anyway, I worry about this 'grandfather' business. They seem determined that in a very short period all CT's should have the degree they are pushing. My question was more to the future 'requirement' for membership to be able to get a job. What is the oppinion of employers/hospitals?

Indeed. Like constantly forking out for other people's "lifestyle choices"!

But regarding VRCT - may I refer you to the (many) earlier threads on that topic.

Mark,
From a different prespective. You mention Warrington. Im just down the road in Liverpool (LHCH is on the old Broadgreen DGH site).
The senior staff at quite a few EBME in the area that where there 15 years ago havent changed that much.
Maybe you could pm them and see if they could assist you.

Well done for bringing this issue up Mark. Your situation is one of many that highlight the flaws in the whole VRCT setup. We have been telling them for years that if we are to develop a proper Biomed profession it has to encompass engineers/ technicians from all areas of medical equipment maintenance not just NHS Medical Physics Technicians (oh, and Renal techs as well).
A few job vacancies do ask for VRCT (sometimes CT without the VR!) but I'm sure if the right candidate turns up at interview they'd be insane not to take them on.
At present, membership of the VRCT does not guarantee a "good" tech, there were no measures in place to assess the competency of a candidate other that the fact that the registrant has been in post for more than three years!

Karl's suggestion is the best. Mark needs to quit worrying about VRCT and get in touch with a few folk here in the UK. This forum is as good a place to start as any.

Thank's heaps yuse blokes (with a poor Aussie accent),

I have been in touch with my old collegues, there isn't much they can do wrt the VRCT. I wanted to get an insight into what the industry thinks about the membership criteria - I am a firm beleiver that the professional concept is vital, as long as there is a realistic and proper structure - I could go on for hours...

I've also been watching the job situation, via this site and the NHS Jobs one, and remain pretty confident about getting a job. The only worry was the VRCT. They seem to me (I have read all of the threads I could find on the subject)to be, at best, nieve about what it is we actually do and have no concept of the 'hands on' approach which is required to enstill confidence in the clinical staff...

I shall go through the motions of applying but not worry too much.

Does it have to be the NHS? Don't forget there is a Dark Side (medical engineering companies operating in the private sector) as well.

Not at all.

I worked for private companies before my current AHS (Area Health Service) job, Alaris and GE Medical were two of them. I enjoyed working out and about for GE - numerous private hospitals all over the place...

Might as well start putting feelers out now, I suppose.