Business Details
23 Years
experience
Trusted Healthcare Recruitment Solutions in the UK
Established in 2003, we are a market-leading healthcare recruitment agency dedicated to connecting allied health professionals, doctors, and nurses with NHS trusts and private sector organisations. Our commitment to quality is evidenced by our ISO 9001:2015 certification and membership of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. With over two decades of experience, we maintain a robust network of candidates and operate on every major NHS framework, ensuring compliance and reliability.Our services extend beyond job placements, offering tailored support for locums, revalidation assistance, and international recruitment solutions. We pride ourselves on understanding the complexities of healthcare markets, enabling us to deliver specialist staffing solutions even in candidate-scarce environments. Our values-driven approach focuses on affecting positive futures for healthcare professionals, organisations, and the communities they serve.
Services
Healthcare Recruitment
Locum Staffing
Permanent Placements
International Recruitment
NHS Framework Compliance
Candidate Support
Revalidation Assistance
CPD Training
Advisory Board Services
Specialist Doctor Recruitment
Details
- Year established: 2003
Highlights and features
- We have over 20 years of experience in healthcare recruitment
- Our team provides dedicated support for locums and permanent candidates
- We are ISO 9001:2015 certified for quality management
- We operate on every major NHS framework with proven compliance standards
- Our international recruitment specialists support overseas candidates
Associations and certifications
- ISO 9001:2015
- Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC)
Services
Healthcare Recruitment
We specialise in placing allied health professionals, doctors, and nurses into NHS and private sector roles. Our expertise covers temporary and permanent placements, with specialists in anaesthetics, psychiatry, and surgery. With ISO-certified processes and NHS framework compliance, we ensure quality matches for both candidates and organisations.
Locum Staffing
Our locum recruitment services provide rapid access to qualified healthcare professionals. We offer competitive rates between 50110 per hour for roles ranging from consultants to specialist doctors. Our candidates come with verified credentials and experience across multiple NHS trusts and private healthcare providers.
Permanent Placements
We deliver permanent recruitment solutions for healthcare organisations seeking long-term specialists. Our services include candidate vetting, interview coordination, and compliance verification. We focus on hard-to-fill roles while maintaining cost-effectiveness for our clients across various medical disciplines.
International Recruitment
Our international recruitment team supports overseas healthcare professionals with IELTS/OET testing, visa applications, and relocation. We help bridge staffing gaps in UK healthcare by connecting qualified international candidates with NHS and private sector employers through regulated pathways.
Candidate Support
We provide comprehensive support for healthcare professionals including CPD training, revalidation assistance, and career guidance. Our advisory board connects candidates with recruitment consultants for tailored advice, while our compliance team ensures all documentation meets regulatory standards.
Questions
How do I register with Athona as a healthcare professional?
Visit our website and complete the registration form with your CV and preferred job types. Our team will contact you within 24 hours to discuss opportunities.
What payment options are available for locum assignments?
We offer weekly payments via direct bank transfer for locum assignments, with rates clearly stated in each job description ranging from £50–110 per hour.
Do you offer international recruitment support?
Yes, we provide full support for overseas candidates including IELTS/OET testing assistance, visa guidance, and relocation support to the UK healthcare sector.
Are your recruitment services compliant with NHS standards?
We operate on every major NHS framework and maintain ISO 9001:2015 certification to ensure all our recruitment processes meet strict compliance requirements.
What healthcare specialisms do you cover?
We specialise in anaesthetics, psychiatry, surgery, paediatrics, general medicine, and allied health professions across both temporary and permanent roles.
How can clients request staffing solutions?
Contact our recruitment team directly via phone or email to discuss your staffing needs. We provide tailored solutions for both urgent and planned vacancies.
Reviews (4)
Amaka Umunna
May 26, 2022
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Working with Athona. Fantastic with the first consultant Gemma but getting shifts is hell with the new consultant introduced to me. Thinking about leaving them now for another agency but will wait till next month to take this decision. Things have gone wrong both in booking and in payment with the new consultant and not at all happy with them.
Kelly Kan
Mar 10, 2022
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Wish I could give no star. Had the most negative and frustrating experience with the recruitment agency. Late payment and I had to create a new account for timesheet every 2-3 months - very time consuming and frustrating with all communication and effort needed to put in. Waited and wait for weeks and months withe payment which they promised to pay every 2 week before I stared. I ended my role on 31 Jan and I still have not been paid for the last two weeks before I ended.
I have been waiting for more than a month and I chased up with my recruiter, he forwarded my email to Ingage team and no response for 2 days. I chased up again, still no response from two parties. Then I emailed them again Cc my previous manager, FINALLY there is a response but still not yet paid, it is still a waiting game. In addition, rude staff from the timesheet company they worked with. I have worked with two other agencies and others are way more responsive, helpful and promising. Highly NOT recommend.
I have been waiting for more than a month and I chased up with my recruiter, he forwarded my email to Ingage team and no response for 2 days. I chased up again, still no response from two parties. Then I emailed them again Cc my previous manager, FINALLY there is a response but still not yet paid, it is still a waiting game. In addition, rude staff from the timesheet company they worked with. I have worked with two other agencies and others are way more responsive, helpful and promising. Highly NOT recommend.
Gn Bcbhhhd
Dec 16, 2021
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Mrs Bree was amazing at teaching english, she needs to come back to mark hall and teach us about jane eyre or macbeth!
Karen Bryan
Dec 08, 2021
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I have been with athona for the past few months. I usually do most of my shift booking through Jessie she is very professional, enthusiastic an asset to the company
