Associate Clinical Technologist - Band 3

Job summary

Associate Clinical Technologist in Nuclear Medicine

The Nuclear Medicine department offers a range of services to patients including a comprehensive diagnostic service, molecular radiotherapy treatments, and we also run the Pan Trust Radiopharmacy, where we manufacture the radioactive products required for the day.

The clinical imaging assistant with be part of the clerical team as well as assisting the clinical team. Clinical duties will involve helping the technologists scanning on the cameras with patient throughput; helping prepare imaging equipment, clinics and other duties as required.

Nuclear Medicine imaging uses small amounts of radioactive tracers to diagnose, evaluate or treat a variety of diseases. These include many types of cancer, heart disease, gastrointestinal, endocrine or neurological disorders and other conditions.

The radiotracers are generally injected, inhaled or ingested depending on the examination required.

Staffing in Nuclear Medicine is a mix of physicists, clinical technologists, nurses and clerical staff working as a multidisciplinary team. The equipment includes a SPECT/CT gamma camera, dedicated cardiac gamma camera, Wizard sample counter and radiopharmacy.

Main duties of the job

• Ensure performance of complex imaging equipment, calibrators and on occasions isolators are fit for purpose by carrying out daily routine quality control checks. Also need to report any non-conformances to senior staff.
• Ensure all work is performed and recorded in accordance with Local Rules.
• Dispense radioactive injections for patient administration.
• Perform routine non-imaging tests in the in-vitro laboratory, including sample pipetting.
• Work on reception/admin staff when needed and data entry on CRIS.
• Independently perform routine nuclear medicine imaging tests in a safe and efficient manner with remote supervision of senior clinical technologists.
• Discuss sensitive information with patients and interview them prior to tests to ensure clinical details relevant to the tests are understood.
• Be responsible for the care and comfort of the patient whilst they are in the Nuclear Medicine Department respecting their privacy, dignity, religious and cultural beliefs. Including acting as a chaperone.
• Make appointments, using the radiology information system and give patients factual information about the tests and what to expect. Prepare clinical rooms before and after use and keep stocks replenished.
• Effectively communicate with a diverse group of patient regarding their visit to nuclear medicine, explaining what will be happening and reassure them.

Take part in end of day radiation monitoring after clinics within nuclear medicine and assist with radioactive waste disposal.

About us

Our Trust is situated in the beautiful county of Lincolnshire and is one of the biggest acute hospital trusts in England, serving a population of more than 700,000 people. We provide acute and specialist services to people in Lincolnshire and neighbouring counties. We have an annual income of £643 million (20/21) and we employ nearly 8,500 people.

Our Board have recently agreed a new vision statement - "Outstanding Care Personally Delivered" - stating their ambition for our Trust to be among the best.

We also have a five year Integrated Improvement Plan setting out how we will achieve our strategic objectives, for patients, services, people and partners, the last recognising that our future success depends on our ability to ensure the Lincolnshire healthcare system is successful in achieving its ambition to help people live healthier lives and provide care closer to where people live.

Our latest CQC report increased our ratings for being effective and well-led from 'Requires Improvement' to 'Good'. Our rating for caring remained as 'Good'.

This is in recognition of the huge amount of work that our amazing staff have done to improve the quality of care for our patients in recent years.

We are committed to helping our staff balance their work and home lives and ensure they feel supported, valued and appreciated.