Aberdeen is one of only five specialist centres involved in delivering Radiotherapy to the population of Scotland, with the other centres being located in Inverness, Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Radiotherapy is a specialist cancer treatment using, in most cases, linear accelerator machines to deliver radiotherapy (high energy x-rays). Internal radiotherapy is known as brachytherapy. Radiotherapy treatments can be used effectively to ‘cure’ or ‘palliate’ (improve quality of life through symptom control), and will often be combined with other treatment modalities, such as surgery or chemotherapy.
Radiotherapy treatments are simulated and delivered by Therapeutic Radiographers, with patients generally attending for a course of treatment, which can be between 2 – 6 weeks (diagnosis dependent). We are primarily an out-patient department but about 20% of our workload is in-patient based. The needs of our patients are complex, related to; cancer diagnosis, radiotherapy delivery, and effective management of combined treatment toxicities.
NHS Grampian’s Radiotherapy Service, based on the Foresterhill site, receives referrals from; across the North-East, NHS Orkney, NHS Shetland, and some specialist brachytherapy services being delivered to patients from NHS Highland.
I would like to become a Therapeutic Radiographer
General information about becoming a Radiographer, either Therapeutic (based in Radiotherapy), or Diagnostic (based in Radiology), can be found at the Society of Radiographers.
In Scotland, practising as a Therapeutic Radiographer requires a degree from a recognised Higher Education establishment. Training leads to a BSc Honours in Therapeutic Radiography, courses are available at Queen Margaret University and Glasgow Caledonian University. Graduates with a relevant degree can also train to become a Therapeutic Radiographer via a postgraduate course, gaining a PgDip/MSc in Radiotherapy, offered by Queen Margaret University.
If you over 16 and in S5/S6, or are thinking about Therapeutic Radiography as a career, the Radiography Team may be in a position to offer you work experience. Please direct your enquiries through the NHS Grampian Work Experience website or contact nicola.redgwell@nhs.net for further information/informal chat.
I am currently training to be a Therapeutic Radiographer
NHS Grampian supports elective clinical placements in Radiotherapy, negotiated by Therapeutic Radiography students as part of their course programme. NHS Grampian employs new graduate Therapeutic Radiographers from both the BSc and MSc courses into a Band 5 role, once Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC) registered.
I am a qualified Therapeutic Radiographer and considering a move to Grampian
NHS Grampian offers an opportunity to live and work within a very special part of Scotland.
Within NHS Grampian we can offer a range of exciting opportunities, in our purpose built facility, incorporating many radiographer-led pathways such as: breast mark-up, image review, and on-treatment clinic review. The department also offers a full range of clinical experience, including SABR treatment and DIBH technique.
The Radiography Department in NHS Grampian is committed to developing staff through involvement in: multidisciplinary working groups, MSc study, and internal and external CPD events, all of which ensures best practice and competency development, also meeting the requirements of our professional registration with the HCPC.
I am a qualified Therapeutic Radiographer but it’s been some years since I practised. Am I able to return to work?
NHS Grampian welcomes enquiries from Therapeutic Radiographers who’ve allowed their registration to lapse, or who’ve had a career break. We’re happy to support you to regain registration through supervision and an assessment of your clinical competencies. For an informal chat please contact nicola.redgwell@nhs.net and more information is also available from the HCPC.