Role of the Radiographer
Diagnostic Radiographers generally use x-rays, alongside other imaging modalities, to see inside a patient’s body and help diagnose what is wrong with them.
In the Radiology Theatres the Radiographer is an essential part of the team. A large X-Ray camera (C-arm) is used in all the procedures, which allows the Doctor (Radiologist) to see the area of the body they are diagnosing or treating in real time. The Radiographer ensures that the radiation used is safely monitored and moves the equipment while the Radiologist is scrubbed in sterile gloves and gown.
The Radiographer will also ensure that important information is recorded after the operation, including all the images they have saved throughout.
The Radiographer will know where all the equipment the Radiologist might need is and how to open them so they stay clean. Often the Radiographer is the only member of the team that is not scrubbed in sterile gloves and gowns so monitoring the patient, getting equipment and documenting important information also becomes part of their responsibility.
Considering Diagnostic Radiography as a career? It is a 3 year undergraduate course which involves a large amount of placement in a clinical environment. This involves learning how to do plain film X-Rays, such as in A&E. It also includes periods of time in CT, MRI, Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound and Radiology Theatres.
Leeds Teaching Hospital Trusts take Diagnostic Radiography students from the course at the University of Leeds. To find out more about the course click this link:
https://courses.leeds.ac.uk/25159/BSc_Diagnostic_Radiography
