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The Clinical and Radiation Physics department contains 16 team members, including administrative staff, Healthcare Science Practitioners, Clinical Scientists and Radiographers. The department provides governance and assurance alongside scientific and technical services for diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, and radiation protection within the NHS, private, and academic sectors.
In Plymouth, the Clinical and Radiation Physics department has an excellent reputation with both internal and external customers. We work closely with our clinical colleagues to deliver high-quality, safe, and patient-centred radiological imaging, and therapy services to our service users as well as radiation protection to both staff and patients. We work collaboratively with colleagues in other departments across the southwest.
We as a department provide scientific support to the West Devon and East Cornwall Breast Screening Programme and have outstanding organisational relationships with Research and Development (R&D), Medical Imaging, and other Service Lines as an onsite service provider.
“We are immensely proud of the team that is Clinical and Radiation Physics. We provide scientific and technical support for the safe and compliant use of ionising radiations and focus on the development of our team in support of improvements in patient experience.
We provide our support throughout a multitude of clinical services within the Trust and to external organisations in a hugely diverse set of workstreams. We work collaboratively with clinicians and other professional groups to support the introduction of new diagnostic and therapeutic pathways, fostering close working relationships expected as part of an in-house Physics service to a large University teaching hospital.
We aim to nurture an improvement culture, optimising our imaging studies and testing methods, where any member of the team can share ideas and suggest new ways of working. The group is well placed to champion the continued development of a strong radiation safety culture, using our knowledge to influence and empower others. As a unique and highly specialised workforce, we aim to operate collaboratively with other Trusts, integrated Care Systems and Imaging Networks. In doing so, we can build resilience to our combined services, increase efficiency and support the wider development of Healthcare Scientists in pursuit of patient care.
We are a growing team of approximately 20 Healthcare Scientists and trainees, providing a mixture of roles that all play a part in making the group so much better than its sum. Committed to training our workforce of tomorrow, both internally and through apprenticeships, national programmes of study, and certified roles, the aim is to support our team to realise their potential whilst placing a strong emphasis on health and wellbeing.”
Clinical and Radiation Physics are an onsite Physics service to the University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, and we have built up close working relationships with our colleagues throughout. We are directly integrated into the management of our Trust, permitting wider personal development in leadership, governance, and research and development. The South West has established numerous professional networks in Nuclear Medicine and Diagnostic Radiology, Radiation Protection and Mammography, recognising the importance of learning from each other and sharing scarce resources.
Find out more about what UHP has to offer
Derriford Hospital is the largest specialist teaching hospital in the South West Peninsula and the region’s major trauma centre. Our specialist services include Interventional Radiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Renal transplantation, pancreatic cancer surgery, and Neurosurgery. We are a teaching hospital in partnership with the University of Plymouth and working with Plymouth Marjon University.
Our Trust operates the Peninsula Radiology Academy which provides state-of-the-art facilities, and materials to support the training and development of FRCR training for Consultant Radiologists. Trainees move between hospital Trusts in the Peninsula opening excellent opportunities for research, development, and audit within Diagnostic Radiology.
Clinical and Radiation Physics involvement in clinical trials is two-fold: for clinical trials originating in the Trust, the Medical Physics Experts (MPE) set the radiation constraints for each of the procedures and supply the trial investigator with the risk of cancer arising from this imaging.
MPEs ensure that the Trust can comply with the imaging procedure constraints given by the persons running the trial. In this way, Clinical and Radiation Physics ensures that risks are minimised by safeguarding trial participants are fully appraised of any risk they are taking by agreeing to do the trial.
The department has published extensively and encourages research and development activity that safely introduces and / or optimises diagnostic and therapeutic uses of ionising radiations.
Emma joined the department in April 2022 as a Consultant Physicist in Nuclear Medicine. Here’s why this job appealed to her:
Nuclear Medicine physics is a fascinating and varied career where no two days are the same. After doing my physics degree, I wanted to use this knowledge for the greater good, so I was delighted when I found Medical Physics as a career. As I’m people-oriented, specialising in Nuclear Medicine was an easy decision as I get to see a lot of patients, which adds variety but also allows me to see the benefit of the treatment we can give. The area around Derriford Hospital is beautiful, and I love being in Dartmoor with all the outdoor pursuits that it brings. The beaches in the area are also stunning, and it’s great having those nearby. Friends and family also love coming to visit.
I work as part of a really welcoming and lovely multidisciplinary team, which is great to be part of. We all work well for the benefit of patients, with each group bringing their skills to the party. As physicists, this mostly involves radiation protection and ensuring treatments and tests that we do are optimised and equipment is working properly for the correct diagnosis.
Walking and spending time on the moors or by the beach are my favourite things to do. Having a young family, it’s great that there are always things going on in the area, such as food festivals and outdoor events, such as the National Firework Championships in Plymouth.
After completing the Scientist Training Programme (STP) in Radiotherapy, I moved over to work in the Clinical and Radiation Physics department so I could remain based in Plymouth.
I had a lot to learn as I had missed out on the STP specialism training, so I relied heavily on my colleagues to show me the ropes. It didn’t take long for me to settle in, as everyone was very approachable and willing to go out of their way to support me. I feel lucky to be part of such a great team and would highly recommend the department as a place to work.
We offer
27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 29 days after 5 years service
Generous NHS pension plan.
All our vacancies are advertised online. You will need to create an account to fill out an application form. Help with your job application
If you would like to know more about Clinical and Radiation Physics, discuss opportunities or arrange an informal visit to the department, please contact:
Rob Loader, Head of Clinical and Radiation Physics, robert.loader@nhs.net
Kate de Burgh, Head of Clinical and Radiation Physics, k.deburgh@nhs.net
Jackie Hoare, Deputy Head of Clinical and Radiation Physics, Jackie.hoare@nhs.net
01752 (4)33879
