We are UHB: Luke White, Clinical Photographer

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust runs Good Hope, Heartlands, Queen Elizabeth and Solihull hospitals, the Birmingham Chest Clinic, and Solihull community services.

After I finished my degree in photography at University of Derby in 2021, I worked as a trainee in the clinical photography department for a couple of years.? I recently finished a postgraduate degree in clinical photography with Staffordshire University and am now a fully qualified clinical photographer.

Usually, I’ll come in at 9am and join a daily morning team meeting; this entails everybody discussing our workloads, sharing what jobs we’ve got on and raising any queries.? Then I’ll plan what photography kit I need for the day and go out onto the wards or clinics. As well as this, we may also be asked to take medical photography in theatres, and I’ll see several different patients during the day.

The ward staff are helpful and can make the job a lot easier by arranging the patient’s consent to have photography taken so that I can get the photos done as quickly as possible.? This means I can see more patients and the day flows a lot more easily.

The job can be more challenging when patients are not very mobile and it’s harder to photograph the patient. I assess each patient’s needs individually before I photograph them, decide what photographs I might need to take, and make sure I’ve noted everything on the consent form. I try to always make sure I get the best possible images for the patient’s medical records.

Along with the technical part of the role and getting the photos I need, there’s a real need for good communication with patients to make sure they are comfortable, as well as with the nurses and other staff on the ward, to help with removing dressings. or to mobilise them.

One of the most interesting parts of my job is going into theatre because it’s a completely different experience. You may see patients before and after their operation, and for some patients they are quite nervous and it’s always good to put their mind at ease, that the photos will also help with their treatment.?

The job can be quite challenging, but it is also really rewarding. I’ve met a lot of people in the hospitals and at our off-site locations, like our dialysis units. It’s interesting to meet new people and talk to different patients and staff.? Sometimes patients, like those going to dialysis units, will be undergoing regular treatment, and you get to know them and make that little bit of a difference to their lives.

A lot of people don’t realise clinical photography roles exist within healthcare. You may start with an interest in photography and take a course at university, and you don’t realise that this job is out there where you can help patients, whether that’s helping the clinicians get a diagnosis, or by logging their progress, through your photography.

Healthcare Science Week takes place every year from 11-15 March and aims to shine a spotlight on our fantastic healthcare scientists, like Luke, and the fantastic work they do.

Healthcare science is key to the evolution of the NHS through time, from past to the present and looking to the future. Impacting three in every four clinical decisions made in the NHS, healthcare science continually shapes innovative technological advancements to help ensure that people are living happier, healthier, and longer lives.

With over 55,000 NHS staff working across over 50 specialisms, from medical engineers to radiotherapy apprentices, it is only deserving that we celebrate the vital role our healthcare scientists play in in the diagnosis, prevention,?and treatment of disease throughout time and the health of our population to date.

We will soon be recruiting for clinical photographers to join Luke and his team. Please keep an eye out on our jobs website below: