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Find out a radiographer's salary and job descripton
Radiographers come under the general job title of healthcare workers, and typically work in both private and NHS hospitals. They work as part of a team and liaise closely with doctors and also nurses. The majority of their work focuses on taking X-rays of people to ascertain the nature of the injury, for instance a broken arm. In the example of the broken arm, after x-raying it they would then look at the images with doctors to diagnose where the problem is and then arrange treatment for them. Most radiographer jobs will also require you to work closely with patients, so you must have good communication skills, and be a good listener.
Job description
There are two main fields that you can work in firstly diagnostic radiography and secondly therapeutic radiography. Your work will consist of you using different types of imaging techniques and equipment to take pictures of injuries of patients. These images are important to help doctors to assess if a particular treatment is working on a patient, or to diagnose and find problems. You would not be just working on x-ray machines but also on other sophisticated equipment like a CT device, this stands for Computerised Tomography. A CT scan is basically a more advanced x-ray machine, and can produce three-dimensional images or medical imaging of a body. Other equipment you can wok on is a ultrasound device, and a MRI device [magnetic resonance imaging]. Once you have produced the scans then you can produce a report and forward them onto a radiologist, these are doctors who specialise in reading x-ray scans.
After a scan has been produced then it would be your job to write up a report on your findings and to forward that on, as well as make the patient another appointment if you feel that is necessary.
You could be working with patients from all walks of like, from children up to pensioners. These could be patients referred to you by a GP, or come from the accident and emergency department of a hospital.
Radiographer jobs entails you working with and operating sophisticated digital imaging machines in clinics or in theatre, so you must have a certain degree of IT skills. As new technology is constantly evolving it is important that you keep up-to-date with new techniques, so you may have to attend teaching courses and regular career training to improve your skills.
Typically you can be expected to work on average 35 hours a week, Monday to Friday. However due to the nature of the work you must be flexible as you will be expected to work occasional weekends and also be on call form emergencies.
Safety from radiation
We all know that radiation in high levels can be dangerous, and as this job means you will be working with ‘radiation therapy‘ in a x-ray room for long periods of the day it is important that you are not exposed to too much radiation. As in all public sector jobs the safety of workers and patients is very important. To protect themselves anyone working in radiography will wear radiation monitoring badges and also protective aprons which are called lead coats.
Qualifications and training
If you are interested in applying for any radiographer jobs then you will need to have A levels, and also then have a Radiographer Diploma, although this is now a degree, you basically must have a approved degree course in therapeutic radiography. Once you have this then you must register with the Health Professions Council this is essential to work in any medical jobs in the health service.
Salary
Typically a qualified medical radiographer salary at the start of their career can be expected to earn in the region of £17,000, this can rise up to £31,000 with experience.
Further information
The Society of Radiographers
207 Providence Square
Mill Street
London
SE1 2EW
Telephone: 020 7740 7200
Website: www.sor.org
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