Jobs in health and social care

Medical photographers are technical and scientific photographers who use their photography skills in hospitals. They provide an illustrative support service to all branches of Medicine and associated disciplines, for instance:

• Plastic Surgery
• Dermatology
• Dentistry
• Neurosurgery
• Ophthalmology
• Pharmacy
• Occupational Therapy
• Hospital management
• Pathology

This is not an exhaustive list.

Example 1
Patricia is photographing children sent from the cleft palate clinic. This involves taking a variety of different standardised views showing the deformity. These are indicated by the plastic surgeon on the request form. This kind of photography requires patience and an ability to work quickly, sometimes under pressure that only children have a habit of creating. The photographs are taken at regular intervals to record treatment progress and the effect that growth has on the deformity.

Example 2
David is waiting for a visiting VIP, who is coming to open a new hospital wing. He is a key member of the public relations team. And has arrived early to be in the best position to photograph the visitor, who will be met by the Hospital's senior managers. His photographs are then reproduced in the Hospital, local or possibly national newspapers.

Example 3
Robert is working in the ophthalmic department photographing retinal conditions for the ophthalmologists, who use the photographs diagnostically. This aspect of medical photography is very skilled, and is a sub-speciality of medical photography.

Example 4
Kate is working in the operating theatre, photographing an operation for publication in a surgical textbook that is soon to be in print.

Example 5
Nick is photographing the result of an electrical fire. The senior managers in the Estates Directorate have requested photographs for a report they are writing.

Yes, you could become a specialist working as an ophthalmic photographer, or working in a children's hospital. You usually start as a general medical photographer and then develop a specialism.

The length of training will depend on your present qualifications. In each case to become qualified you will need at least 2 years experience working in a department, irrespective of your academic qualification or vocational experience. Whatever the route, you will need entry level qualifications when applying for college courses or employment. GCSE's may be sufficient for some trainee posts.

Route 1 - Full time study

A full time course for people with A levels or equivalent, or mature students (over 21) with recent study experience

• BA or BSc in photography, some have medical photography options
• BTEC, 2 levels - in photography
• OND/HND - in photography

Then work in a department as trainee/student and study for the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) qualifying exam, or the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) BSc degree.

Route 2 - employment based

Work in a department as a trainee/student whilst studying for a photographic qualification and later the BIPP or IMI qualification.

If I already have a diploma/degree in another subject, can I retrain?

You could take route 2, or apply to:

University of Wales College of Medicine, Department of Medical Illustration Education (see below). Where it is possible to obtain either, a BSc or MSc in Medical Illustration, depending on your initial qualification.

• BIPP - Fox Talbot House, Amwell End, Herts SG12 9HN
• IMI - Membership Secretary, 48 Onslow Gardens, London SW7 3AH
• Department of Medical Illustration Education, School of Healthcare Studies, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XN
• Universities or Colleges of further/higher education.
• Departments of Medical Photography - by telephoning hospital departments