Radiography assistants and imaging support workers help radiographers diagnose and treat patients.
£13 per hour
Working life
Diagnostic radiographers use imaging to work out which disease or condition is causing a patient’s illness and therapeutic radiographers use doses of x-rays and other ionising radiation to treat medical conditions - mainly cancer and tumours.
As a radiography assistant or imaging support worker, you'll work with both types of radiographer to:
• process film images
• order stocks of consumable items
• help with procedures such as biopsies
• make sure the working environment is clean and hygienic
• prepare patients for treatment, including lifting patients
• check the equipment and report faults
• input data
you will work with diagnostic radiographers and therapeutic radiographers, medical physicists, engineers, doctors, nurses and other health professionals.
As a radiography assistant or imaging support worker, you could work with therapeutic and diagnostic radiographers.
You will be based in a private hospital. They provide a service for most departments within the hospital including accident and emergency, outpatients, operating theatres and wards.
Some radiography assistants and imaging support workers work in private clinics and hospitals.
skills required
Radiography assistants and imaging support workers need to be:
• very safety conscious
• interested in technology
• calm and reassuring
• able to understand and follow instructions exactly
• physically fit as the job involves a lot of standing and lifting
You'll also need
• good communication skills
• good observation skills
• ability to keep up to date and learn new skills
Training and development
You will receive the training you need to work as a radiography assistant or imaging support worker. This includes:
• an introduction to the department and its systems and procedures
• using the equipment
• health and safety.