Medical Physics and Clinical Technology
Radiotherapy Physics
Radiotherapy Physics provides a service to the Radiotherapy department within the Trust, together with an on-site service to the Radiotherapy department at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. The department is run by skilled clinical scientists and medical technical officers, some of whom are based at, or work on a rotation basis at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
The team is responsible for maintaining and providing quality assurance of equipment, as well as providing scientific and technical support for the full range of external beam and brachytherapy cancer treatments. With the Trust's new Cancer Centre opening in July 2009, the department is heavily involved in the commissioning of new treatment equipment for the purpose built centre.
Clinical Technology
Clinical Technology provides a clinical photography service and supports the management, including maintenance and repair, of medical devices (ranging from simple infusion devices to CT scanners) from its workshops and offices at the Royal Stoke University Hospital site, and from workshops located alongside key clinical services such as renal and intensive care. A mechanical workshop is located at the Royal Stoke University Hospital site and is used for the design and construction of bespoke equipment.
The service is run by skilled medical technical officers and clinical photographers supported by an admin team. Its role forms an integral part of the Trust demonstrating compliance with the Healthcare Commission's standards. The department is currently involved in planning the new equipment for post natal care and neonatal intensive care in the new Maternity Centre opening in April 2009.
Radiology Physics
Radiology Physics provides a service for radiology equipment and laser users in acute and community hospitals in the Stoke, Shrewsbury, Telford, Stafford, Cannock, Burton, Lichfield, Tamworth, Leek, Whitchurch, and Newport areas, and for some local dental and veterinary practices.
The department also provides a clinical physics service to the Trust's magnetic resonance imaging units, and supplies the mammography physics support to the West Midlands Regional Quality Assurance Reference Centre for the NHS Breast Screening Programme. The department is run by skilled clinical scientists and medical technical officers.