Radiographic Department Assistant (RDA) - Breast Imaging

You will bea pivotal part of the Breast Imaging team, providing help and emotional support for patients. This includes anxious patients being investigated for breast cancer or having just been diagnosed with breast cancer, and patients with communication difficulties.

You will report to Consultant Radiologists and Advanced Radiographic Practitioners during ultrasound examinations. You will be expected to set up and support during a range of aseptic procedures under ultrasound control such as biopsies, aspirations, pre-operative skin marking and localisations which may involve exposure to body fluids.

You will be expected to undertake and be responsible for handling electronic and paper records/images returned from Mobile and Static Screening Units, ensuring images are correctly uploaded and verified in PACS, ready for reporting. This is a substantial task involving 26,000 examinations per annum requiring manipulation and verification of approx 200,000 images.

To assist radiographers/radiologists within the Breast Unit.

To provide help and emotional support for patients during their time in the department. This includes anxious patients being investigated for breast cancer or having just been diagnosed with breast cancer, and patients with communication difficulties.

To assist radiologists/radiographers during ultrasound examinations and a range of aseptic procedures under ultrasound control including cyst, abscess, seroma drainage, biopsies, pre-operative skin marking and saviscout insertion which may involve exposure to body fluids.

To undertake and be responsible for handling electronic and paper records/images returned from Mobile and Static Screening Units, ensuring that images are correctly uploaded and verified in PACS, ready for reporting. This is a substantial task involving 26,000 examinations per annum requiring manipulation and verification of approx 200,000 images.

Provide clinical technical services including dispatching specimens to pathology

Work with and dispose of sharps in a darkened room.

To assist radiographers/radiologists during stereotactic procedures.

Excellent communication is needed with patients at all times using tact, sympathy and overcoming any barriers to understanding e.g. language difficulties, learning difficulties, hearing impairment.

To perform general housekeeping duties within the Unit and help to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and staff.

To assist in the review of departmental policies and procedures within boundaries of their competence.

Enable clients to make use of available services and information.

Radiation Protection

An awareness of protocols and policies as required under the ionising regulations to comply with IRR 17, IR(ME)17

Frequently requested to retrieve case notes or mammography films.

Answer the telephone, using the agreed departmental standard and referring messages to the appropriate person/area.

Update patients records, electronically and manually.

Maintain records of examinations performed under ultrasound and of screening films loaded and unloaded.

To participate in regular Audit and staff meetings.

Co-operate with the orientation of all staff.

The jobholder may be required to work in a variety of areas.

Due to the configuration of the Unit the post holder maybe required to work across sites.

TRAINING

In service training is provided.

During the course of your duties you will become aware of information concerning patients medical or personal details, all such information must be treated in the strictest confidence.

The post holder shall as necessary provide cover for and undertake duties of absent colleagues.

The post holder shall follow all the policies and procedures of the organisation.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust comprises Aintree University Hospital, Broadgreen Hospital & Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

We are part of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, formed on 1 Nov 2024 from the coming together of LUHFT and Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust. The Group was born from a shared aim to improve the care we provide our patients.

UHLG is one of the largest employers in the region, with over 16,800 colleagues dedicated to caring for our communities - from birth and beyond.

For the 630,000 people across Merseyside, we are their local NHS. We provide general and emergency hospital care, alongside highly specialised regional services for more than two million people in the North West.

Aintree University Hospitalis the single receiving site for adult major trauma patients in Cheshire and Merseyside and hosts a number of regional services including an award-winning stroke facility.Broadgreen Hospitalis home to elective surgical, diagnostic and treatment services, together with specialist patient rehabilitation.Liverpool Women's Hospitalspecialises in the health of women and babies, delivering over 7,200 babies in the UK's largest single site maternity hospital each year. TheRoyal Liverpool University Hospitalis the largest hospital in the country to provide inpatients with 100% single bedrooms and focuses on complex planned care and specialist services.

Qualifications

Essential: - Educated to GCSE or NVQ level II standard or equivalent; - Clinical Healthcare Support Level 3 or Equivalent experience

Experience

Desirable: - Experience within an NHS health care setting

Knowledge

Essential: - Understanding of patient confidentiality

Desirable: - Knowledge of breast screening programme

Skills

Other

Essential: - Flexible and adaptable; - Recognises own limitations

Desirable: - Basic understanding of anxiety and fears of patients undergoing procedures