Diagnostic imaging

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Local careers in diagnostic imaging

Love Cornwall? Stay Local and develop an exciting and stimulating career in Diagnostic (Clinical) Imaging at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

We have many apprenticeships and local jobs to offer local people.

Diagnostic Imaging is a very interesting, perpetually changing healthcare service with plenty of opportunities for a wide variety of jobs and career development.

Diagnostic Imaging uses x-rays, ultrasound, magnetic fields and isotopes to image and scan patients’ bodies in the diagnosis of injuries and pathologies such as cancer. Most patients coming into hospital will have some form of diagnostic imaging to inform their clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Work experience placements

Diagnostic Imaging sees it all! We can offer one week workplace experience to students studying for relevant BTEC or A level qualifications.

Our Clinical Imaging department at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske in Truro is a great place to get some insight into careers in healthcare, including medicine.
You will be rotated through a variety of imaging modalities and functions including:

  • X-ray – observe Radiographers and Assistant Radiographer Practitioners taking x-rays of patients from the emergency department, in fracture and outpatient clinics and from their general practitioner [GP].
  • Ultrasound – spend time with Sonographers scanning inpatients, outpatients and pregnant women.
  • CT [computerised tomography] – watch experienced Specialist Radiographers scan patients to visualise body anatomy in cross-section and to create 3D images of vessels and organs.
  • MRI [magnetic resonance imaging] – join the MR Radiographers as they scan patients using very strong magnetic fields, with an emphasis on working safely in this environment.
  • Nuclear Medicine – gain an understanding of how radioisotopes are used to visualise body function, impairment and extent of disease.
  • Bone densitometry – watch patients being scanned to ascertain their bone health and fragility.
  • Imaging IT – spend time with our specialised IT team to learn about the importance of data security, digital technology and artificial intelligence in medical imaging.
  • Administration & Clerical [A&C] team – observe reception functions, how appointments are booked, and telephone queries answered in the engine house of the imaging service
  • Clinical Imaging Assistants [CIA] – accompany our CIA colleagues as they move patients between wards and imaging departments across the hospital, providing some insight into how the wider hospital functions.
  • Reporting – spend a session with the Consultant Radiologists or Reporting Radiographers as they interpret x-rays and scans into a written report using digital dictation software.

If you are interested in workplace experience within Clinical Imaging please apply here:

Get into Health and Care: Opening doors to a career in health and care

Flexible working

Kernowflex – Join our hospital ‘bank’ as a CIA or A&C officer to work flexible hours around your other commitments.

£18,546 per annum or £9.50 per hour plus holiday pay and enhancements.
Weekend and evening work available as well as shifts during bank holidays and holiday periods.

You choose the shifts you can work. Also, allows the opportunity to Earn while you Learn as a student, whilst you continue your studies to gain higher education and degree qualifications.

Paid induction training and uniform provided.

If you are interested, you will need to complete a RECRUITMENT APPLICATION FORM:

Please return your completed application form via email to rch-tr.jobs@nhs.net

Apprenticeships

Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust has a variety of clinical imaging apprenticeships on offer. These are full-time with 30 hours per week based in hospital practice plus 6-7.5 hours per week for study, or equivalent.

You will need to join us on Kernowflex, or apply for a permanent job, as a Band 2 Administration and Clerical [A&C] Officer or Clinical Imaging Assistant [CIA] to access our Level 3 apprenticeships.

If you are interested, you will need to complete a RECRUITMENT APPLICATION FORM:

Please return your completed application form via email to rch-tr.jobs@nhs.net.

To apply for an Assistant Radiographer Practitioner (Level 4/5) apprenticeship or a Diagnostic Radiographer (Level 6) apprenticeship you will need to spend some time in the Clinical Imaging department to make sure that this is the correct career choice for you. Please be aware that these apprenticeships are also subject to a university led selection process.

We can offer an expanded workplace experience over a fortnight, providing more information and insight into what a career in Clinical Imaging can offer before you commit.

You will rotate through modalities and spend time with Clinical Imaging staff working in a variety of roles as well as having more opportunity to interact with patients and experience the healthcare environment first-hand.

If you wish to pursue a career in Diagnostic Imaging after your ‘taster’ fortnight, you will need to join Kernowflex or be supported to apply for a permanent post with us through an interview process.

Direct entry onto our Level 5 and Level 6 Apprenticeships will be potentially available to the right candidates after a suitable selection process (application and interview).

Health science in radiography

This course is a level 3, 24 months, delivered by Truro College.
Equivalent of 3 A levels, including science, leading to careers as an Assistant Radiographer Practitioner or Diagnostic Radiographer.

Applicants must have Grade A-C/Level 4 GCSEs in Maths and English.
Full-time employment as a Clinical Imaging Assistant including flexible study time around service and study requirements.

Salary £18,546 p.a. or £9.50 per hour plus holiday pay and enhancements for weekend and evening working.

Assistant practitioner in radiography

This course is a level 4/5, 2 years, delivered by the University of Plymouth.
Applicants must have Grade A-C / Level 4 GCSEs in Maths and English, ideally the Level 3 Healthcare Science qualification.

Employed full time as a Clinical Imaging Assistant including study time aligned to university requirements.

Salary in training is £18,546 p.a. or £9.50 per hour plus holiday pay plus enhancements for weekend, evening and bank holiday working.

Applicants will be interviewed by the university as well as the Clinical Imaging department before being accepted onto the programme.

Upon qualification you will be able to apply for an Assistant Radiographer Practitioner post, current salary (July 2022), initially £22,549 per annum rising to £24,882 per annum after 3 years or £11.56 – £12.76 per hour plus holiday pay and enhancements for out of hours working.

Diagnostic radiographer

This course is a level 6 (degree level), 3 years, delivered by the University of Exeter or the University of Plymouth.

Applicants must have either 3 A-levels including at least 1 science or the Level 3 Healthcare Science in Radiography certificate which is an equivalent qualification.
Applicants will be interviewed by the university as well as the Clinical Imaging department before being accepted onto the apprenticeship programme.

This degree level apprenticeship leads to a Batchelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Diagnostic Radiography.

A degree qualification of 2:2 or above entitles professional registration as a Diagnostic Radiographer with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) after which you can apply to work as a professionally qualified Diagnostic Radiographer.

Salary in training is £20,330 per annum rising to £22,549 after passing the exams at end of year 2 (the equivalent of the Assistant Practitioner qualification).

An HCPC registered graduate Diagnostic Radiographer earns £25,665 per annum or £13.16 per hour, rising to £27,780 p.a. or £14.22 p.h. after 2 years (as of July 2022) with holiday pay plus enhancements for weekend, evening, bank holiday and night shifts.

Career progression as a Radiographer over several years can ultimately lead to Consultant Radiographer practice with a salary of circa £54-63,000 per annum.

Business administration

This course is a level 3a, 18 months duration, delivered on-line by Lifetime Training.
Equivalent of 3 A levels, leading to careers in project management, team lead / manager, data analyst etc.

Applicants must have Grade A-C / Level 4 GCSEs in Maths and English.
Full-time employment as an Administration and Clerical [A&C] Officer including flexible study time around service and study requirements.

Salary £18, 546 p.a. or £9.50 per hour plus holiday pay and enhancements for weekend and evening working.

University Life

Interested in becoming a Radiographer but want the complete university experience?
You can also qualify as a Diagnostic Radiographer through attainment of a full-time university undergraduate degree which includes clinical placements in hospital sites. Please apply direct to the universities through UCAS for this approach.

There are relatively local degree programmes in place at the University of Exeter, the University of Plymouth and the University West of England in Bristol.

If you are planning to study Medicine at University and are ultimately interested in training to be a Consultant Radiologist (a doctor who specialises in Radiology / Clinical Imaging), the South West Radiology Academy is based in Plymouth.

Clinical Imaging recruitment video

Links to further information

Further information regarding Apprenticeship Career Pathways for AHP [Allied Health Professionals] is available here:

For an informal discussion with one of our team please e-mail to arrange a date and time:

  • A&C / CIA roles and apprenticeships: Laura Biggs, Clinical Imaging Operations Manager laura.biggs5@nhs.net
  • Assistant and Diagnostic Radiographer apprenticeships: Jackie Knox, Radiography Service Lead jackie.knox3@nhs.net

Kernowflex link for applications via email rch-tr.jobs@nhs.net with name, email address, identifying type of role you might be interested in such as admin and clerical in imaging or Clinical Imaging Assistant in Imaging

Page last reviewed: 31 March 2023

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