About The Radiotherapy Team

When you are diagnosed with cancer you will be referred to a consultant specialising in oncology (Clinical Oncologist).

At your initial consultation, the clinical oncologist will explain possible treatment options and may refer you for oncology treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

If radiotherapy is prescribed, the oncologist will decide on the exact target area.​

After a course of radiotherapy, the oncologist will monitor your progress and support you with ongoing care or cancer treatments.​

Please note you may be seen by the clinical oncologist, or a member of the team (registrar, consultant radiographer or specialist nurse).

Therapeutic Radiographers

Therapeutic Radiographers are the only healthcare profession who specialise solely in Radiotherapy and Oncology patient care.

We are experts in treatment planning, delivering of highly accurate radiotherapy treatment and side effect management.

Pre-Treatment Radiographers​

Our Pre-Treatment Planning Radiographers will ensure that the consultant has all of the information required in order to plan your radiotherapy accurately. This may involve a planning CT scan. To find out more about CT planning click here.

Therapeutic Treatment Radiographers​​

Treatment therapeutic radiographers are the professionals who deliver your radiotherapy treatment. We will assess your needs each day, and act as a liaison between you and your consultant.

Brachytherapy Treatment Radiographers

You will meet this specialist team of radiographers if you are prescribed brachytherapy treatment by your consultant.

Review Radiographers​​

Our specialist Treatment Review Radiographers will review you during your radiotherapy to assess your wellbeing, manage any side effects and answer any questions.

Consultant Radiographers​​

Consultant radiographers work closely with clinical oncologists in seeing new radiotherapy patients, consenting patients for treatment, making referrals for radiotherapy and planning the radiotherapy treatment.

You may not see us or meet us but we are a team of nearly 30 staff. We work behind the scenes to ensure you have the best possible treatment. The team is made up of:​

• Dosimetrists​
• Physicists​​
• Engineers​​

The dosimetrists take the information from the consultant clinical oncologist to make bespoke radiotherapy plans for each person. These plans take into account your internal and external anatomy and ensuring that the treatment you receive gives you the most benefit.

Our physicists and engineers are responsible for the safety and accuracy of the radiotherapy equipment such as the CT scanners and treatment machines. We carry out regular testing and calibration, and also test and develop new equipment and techniques.

Wearing our black NHS uniforms, we are the Radiotherapy Engineers working behind the scenes to keep cancer treatment running safely and smoothly.

Our role is critical. We install, maintain, and monitor the high-precision equipment that delivers radiotherapy to patients every day.

We ensure that every machine is accurate, reliable, and ready when it matters most.

Though you may not always see us, you can trust that every dose of radiotherapy is backed by a team of highly trained radiotherapy engineers who care deeply about the technology and the people it serves.

Bookings Administrators​

Our helpful bookings team deal with radiotherapy bookings and appointment enquiries only.

Before we can make your radiotherapy appointments, our bookings team must receive the referral and written consent form. We would usually receive this referral within 2 weeks of your consultation.

When we receive a referral, we will send you an appointment to have your radiotherapy mapped (radiotherapy pre-treatment planning).

In most cases, radiotherapy treatment will then start around 1-2 weeks after this planning appointment.

Receptionists​

Our friendly reception team will greet you and can help with general queries, parking and transport when you are in the department.

The radiographers are supported by a team of clinical support staff.

They consist of​

• Health Care Assistants (HCAs)​
• Therapeutic Radiographer Apprentices​​
• CT Assistant Practitioners​​

The support staff in our department wear light grey or navy blue uniforms with a name badge denoting their title.