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Medical physics

The medical physics department, based on The James Cook University Hospital site, provides a range of front line patient services, as well as behind the scenes scientific support to a variety of other clinical services.

The aim of the medical physics department is to improve patient outcomes through innovation and the application of physics and engineering.

The department includes four sections:

Support for the trust’s diagnostic radiology services is provided by an external contract with the regional medical physics department based in Newcastle.

Head of department: Orla Hayman
Email: [email protected] 
Tel: 01642 282845

What we do

The department includes an enthusiastic team of HCPC registered clinical scientists and clinical technologists who perform a wide variety of tasks including:

  • scientific and technical support covering all aspects of radiotherapy treatment planning, treatment delivery and imaging;
  • design and construction of devices for use within the trust;
  • administration of therapeutic radioisotopes;
  • provision of patient monitoring and advice to surgeons in theatre;
  • radioisotope imaging; and
  • repair, commissioning, calibration and quality assurance of linear accelerators and other equipment.

The department contributes to the regional training in all its specialties as part of the practitioner training programme (PTP), the scientist training programme (STP) and the higher specialist scientific training scheme (HSST).  

We also provide training of clinical scientists under the Association of Clinical Scientist’s route 2 scheme. Furthermore, we host a number of work experience placements every year within the department.

In addition, we have a strong track record for research, development and innovation, recognising as we do the important contribution that workforce diversity and inclusion makes to innovation.

We are heavily involved in clinical trials and staff regularly present work at conferences and in peer reviewed journals.

We have a members of staff who are actively involved with innovation in the trust providing assistance to other departments in bringing their ideas to fruition by working closely with the Academic Health Science Network North East and North Cumbria and other academic, national health service, and private organisations within the region.