Healthcare science staff working in this field will use x-rays, radioactive materials, lasers and ultraviolet radiation, as a vital part of imaging patients, diagnosing their disease, treating them and monitoring their response to treatment. For example, patients will have the blood vessels in the heart unblocked using a special catheter introduced under x-ray control.
Staff are also responsible for ensuring this equipment is safe for both patients and staff. Using specialised equipment, they measure and calculate the doses of radiation received by patients during treatment and by the staff delivering it. They survey the working environment and monitor the performance of equipment to ensure that it complies with stringent regulations.
At a senior level, a radiation protection adviser or radioactive waste adviser sets policy and implements quality standards for the use of radiation and radioactive materials.
More on Radiation Safety Physics
Watch this short video from Will Newman, Scientist Training Programme Alumni. In this video Will talks about Radiation Protection and Imaging and how important it is to check x-ray equipment to make sure they give good quality images.
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