• Question: Do you ever do hands on work with any patients at the NHS?

    Asked by 538cars46 to Shona on 21 Sep 2016.
    • Photo: Shona Whittam

      Shona Whittam answered on 21 Sep 2016:

      In radiotherapy physicists don’t do much hands on work with patients- we mainly work with the machines and software associated with treating and scanning the patients. The hands on stuff is done by radiographers and doctors and I advise these colleagues behind the scenes on the best treatment for the patient.

Comments

  • Photo: Verity

    Verity commented on :

    In genomics we don’t directly work with patients either, unless you are a genomic counsellor/consultant. Genomic counsellors speak to patients who may have be ill (like some types of cancer) or have a disease that may be caused by changes in their DNA (the instructions in every cell of your body that make you, you). We in the lab test the patients DNA and are like DNA detectives, trying to find the change in the DNA that caused the illness/disease so patients can maybe receive special medicines or treatment.

  • Photo: Gill

    Gill commented on :

    As a sonographer (ultrasound scans) I do work with patients in the NHS or small clinics.