Healthcare Science Week 2026

Our Medical Photography team, made up of four people, provides specialist clinical imaging services across the Trust.  

The team produces accurate, standardised photographic and video documentation of injuries, diseases, surgical procedures and medical conditions for clinical, evidential, and teaching purposes.

The team supports various specialties, including: 

• Dermatology, 

• Ophthalmology, 

• Paediatrics, 

• Tissue Viability, 

• Diabetic Foot, 

• Orthopaedics, 

• ENT, 

• Plastics, 

• Cardiology, 

• Accident and Emergency, and,  

• Critical Care.  

Colleagues in the team also support our Maternity Bereavement team with remembrance photos. For this work they have previously been recognised as BTH’s Unsung Hero award winners at the Celebrating Success awards 2024 – the Trust’s annual staff recognition event. Read about their award here: “Always gentle, kind, caring and compassionate” team win Unsung Hero award :: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. 

Working in Medical Photography involves responding to requests from wards, theatres and clinics – while also supporting scheduled ophthalmology and dermatology services.  

Paul Canning, Senior Medical Photographer said: “No two days are ever the same. One moment I may be seeing 40+ retinal patients in the Medical Retina Unit; the next, documenting open heart surgery, or supporting a bereaved family through remembrance photography, mentoring students and teaching photography to our many Community teams, or indeed running the Ederma two-week referral, fast track cancer moles clinic for Dermatology at Clifton Hospital.” 

While the role requires strong technical foundation skills like lighting and colour accuracy, it is important to remember that it is a people-centred profession. 

Paul also said: “Technical skill is vital – but compassion, communication and professionalism are just as important. 

“You must be able to put anxious patients at ease, maintain dignity in intimate situations and remain calm in distressing circumstances.

“If you are curious, resilient, compassionate and technically precise, it can be one of the most rewarding careers in healthcare”.  

Find out more about the clinical photography role here: Clinical photography | Health Careers. 

Our Neurophysiology department, also known as the EEG department, conduct tests on the brain and nervous system. 

The team primarily conducts electroencephalogram (EEG) tests. These are brain wave tests that measure the electrical signals our brain gives off.

 Brad Dixon, Clinical Physiologist, said: “These tests are really handy for testing for things like epilepsy. We also do nerve conduction studies to look for nerve problems in the hands and arms and VEPs to look for problems in the optic nerve”.  

Visually Evoked Potential (VEP) is a test that looks at your visual pathways from your eye to the brain along the optic nerve to assess if it is functioning properly. 

As a Clinical Physiologist Brad’s role is to look after the patient, carry out the required test and then write a report based on what he saw.  

Most of Brad’s day is spent doing EEGs. These are performed in the department as Outpatients appointments or the team will also travel around the hospital performing inpatient tests.  

To perform an EEG electrodes are placed on the scalp which are connected by wires to an EEG recording machine.

“The most critical skill a physiologist can have is an attention to detail, this is particularly important when making sure the electrodes are placed onto the patient’s head properly. This may sound like a small detail, but a proper connection is important for getting the most accurate signal from the brain!” 

Brad’s advice to an up-and-coming physiologist would be to take the time to really talk to your patients. 

“You’d be amazed at the useful clinical information you can get from someone’s history when you listen to their story. It also really helps a patient relax if they feel that their physiologist cares about what they are trying to tell them”.  

Find out more about a career in Neurophysiology here: Neurophysiology | Health Careers. 

Our Medical Microbiology department uses the study of bacteria, parasites, viruses, fungi and infectious diseases to select, perform and interpret appropriate tests for infection in patients. The team can test specimens from almost anywhere in the body for most infections. The clinical team in Microbiology will also advise on the treatment and management of patients with infections.  

Once a source of infection has been identified they may also perform tests to see if the bacteria or fungi have become resistant to an antimicrobial drug. An antimicrobial is an agent that kills microorganisms, these may be known as antibiotics, antivirals or antifungals. Detailed and relevant clinical information is very important as it helps them to select the most appropriate tests and interpret the results correctly. 

Caitlin Walker-Owen is a trainee Clinical Scientist within the department and is undertaking the NHS Scientist Training Programme which is a three-year course. Caitlin’s training is very varied and split between work and study, this year she is focussing on:

• Developing her knowledge and experience in testing for and managing a range of infections, 

• Introducing new tests and methods to the laboratory,  

• Undertaking assignments and exams for university, and,  

• Creating a proposal and preparing for her Master’s project. 

In Medical Microbiology it is important to keep your knowledge up to date as it is a field that is constantly evolving with new technologies being developed or new infectious agents and antimicrobial resistances appearing.  

When asked about what she enjoys most about her role Caitlin said: “I am really enjoying the opportunities to develop further specialist knowledge and being able to apply this for the benefit of patients in real time”.  

For anyone considering a career as a Clinical Scientist Caitlin recommends visiting the National School for Healthcare Science website and speaking to other Clinical Scientists about their role and asking about application tips.  

Caitlin added: “Networking is a key skill for completing the programme and utilising your network to understand the application process will help with a successful application”.  

Find out more about training as a Clinical Scientist here: Scientist Training Programme.