Many of these people are a bit older and although they may not have traditional qualifications, that doesn't mean they can't reach consultant level."Among the professions that require all practitioners to enter via a degree is podiatry, but there may be examination exemptions for people who already have a degree in nursing, biology, zoology, physiotherapy, physiology and sports science. "That's why we've introduced pathways to cater for all kinds of backgrounds," says Wiseman. "For example, one route that's becoming increasingly popular is working your way up from assistant practitioner. Today, the Department of Health has been working with professional bodies to develop a structure in which senior practitioners can retain a high level of clinical practice These consultant posts are well-respected and highly paid. In addition, there are more opportunities than ever to move into research. "For me, the roles complement each other," says Gay Canning, a lecturer in radiography at London's City University and a practitioner at the Royal Free and Whittington Hospitals.By far the greatest concern for many is training. People who left school early or who haven't studied for a long time may feel daunted by the prospect of a three- to four-year, full-time degree.
Monahan lives near Tavistock Square in London, where the bomb on the No 30 bus exploded, and recalls: "When my mother saw the news she rang me and said, 'Patrick, don't go near bombs, don't go near buildings and get your hair cut'.". On the other, one of his cousins is a US marine and has served in the two Gulf wars. "The Iraq war was a domestic to us," he quips, "20 years ago my Nan could have sorted it out."The domesticity that he is able to bring to a global problem is refreshing. On one side of his family his grandmother was an Iraqi who married an Iranian Armenian. The ethos of the show echoes Omid Djalili's philosophy that: "Life isn't clear cut, there are grey areas, and I think we should listen to those grey areas because that's where the truth lies."Monahan himself, a Geordie comic with Iranian and Irish parentage, has an intriguing perspective on the troubles in the Middle East. "You wouldn't have a Catholic swim would you?" Nevertheless, old habits die hard and she did ask the audience at The Canal Caf?heatre on one night last week: "Does my bomb look big in this?".Meanwhile, the Edinburgh show of another British Muslim comedian, Patrick Monahan, The Road Map to Peace, is an effort to reconcile cultures based on what they have in common.
"I'm not inside their heads," she says, while in the past she has stated that "there is no such thing as a Muslim terrorist - terrorism is terrorism. There's no such thing as an Islamic fundamentalist, because they don't believe in the fundamentals of Islam."In the last few weeks, Mirza has been previewing her Edinburgh show, Between You and Me, focusing mainly on her personal life, and says that she would rather talk about her indignation that her local swimming baths have a "Muslim swim" day. Her approach to some media appearances has resulted in flippant and withering comments. Once when she was asked on the radio to talk about GCSE results from a Muslim perspective, she said: "Obviously the boys are doing well at chemistry, because they've got to make the bombs."Along with numerous other members of the Muslim community, she has stressed that the suicide bombers are not a reflection on Muslims.
