Radiography department assistant

Radiography department assistants (RDAs) support radiographers. They work under the supervision of the radiographer. They look after patients when they arrive, keep rooms clean and tidy, help the radiographer to move and handle patients, develop X-rays and have clerical duties such as booking appointments.

Work activities

Radiography department assistants (RDAs) work either with diagnostic radiographers, for example, using X-rays to diagnose health problems, or therapeutic radiographers, who use radiation to treat diseases, especially cancer. Before patients arrive, RDAs have to make sure rooms and cubicles are clean, tidy and stocked with the right equipment. Throughout the day, they check that clean gowns are available, prepare trolleys and dispose of used linen. Assistants also clean and help to maintain image processing systems, and radiotherapy and diagnostic equipment. RDAs greet patients when they arrive. They listen to patients to understand their personal needs, explain clearly what will happen next, and reassure them if they are anxious. Assistants assess each patient’s ability to undress for an examination, helping them if necessary. They make sure the patient’s privacy and dignity are respected at all times.

They help radiographers to move and handle patients, including from trolleys, beds and chairs, onto tables for treatment or diagnosis. RDAs can use special lifting equipment to help them move patients. RDAs help to monitor patients, noting any changes in their condition and reporting these to the radiographer. When the radiographer has finished the examination or treatment session, RDAs continue to care for the patient. They will give reassurance, for example, if the patient has to stay in hospital. RDAs also talk to patients’ relatives and carers, giving them reassurance and information. Assistants take patients around the hospital, for example, between wards and departments. They use trolleys and wheelchairs where they need to. RDAs can use X-ray processors to develop images. They also have some clerical and administrative duties such as answering the telephone, booking appointments and photocopying. They use computers to register patients and record appointments.

RDAs can progress, after more training and experience, to become assistant practitioners. At this level, they can increasingly do some of the tasks previously done only by qualified and registered radiographers. RDAs usually wear uniforms. They wear protective clothing, including, masks, gloves and lead rubber aprons, where necessary.

Personal qualities and skills

To be a radiography department assistant, you’ll need:

A caring personality.
Good communication skills.
The ability to get on with people of all ages and backgrounds.
Patience, tact and sensitivity.
Listening skills.
The ability to explain things clearly, to reassure anxious patients.
Practical skills, for example, to clean and maintain equipment.
Physical fitness – you’ll spend most of the day standing, walking, and bending to help patients.
Computer skills, for example, to book appointments.
A responsible attitude. You have to follow strict health and safety procedures.
Teamwork skills.

While the success rates for treating certain types of cancer with radiotherapy are good, you will need emotional strength to cope with distressing situations. In diagnostic radiography, you might work with patients who are badly injured or being examined to detect serious illnesses.

Pay and opportunities

NHS employees are paid on a rising scale within the defined pay bands of the Agenda for Change payscale, according to their skills and responsibilities. The pay rates given are accurate as of November 2023. Radiography department assistants begin on band 1 of the payscale, earning £22,383 per year. They may rise to the top of band 3, earning £24,336 per year.

RDAs usually work 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday.

The NHS employs RDAs. Opportunities occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised on the NHS Jobs website, in local/national newspapers, on the Government’s Find a Job and Find an Apprenticeship services and on job boards.

Entry routes and training

There are no set entry requirements to become a radiography assistant, but a range of GCSEs including English, maths and a science subject may help. Experience of working with or caring for people is also beneficial. If you need to work out whether this job area is right for you, a health and social care course at school or college will give you some insight into working in healthcare. An advanced apprenticeship in the role of senior healthcare support worker is one way into this career path. Alternatively, you could apply directly for vacancies and then have on-the-job training.

Once you start working as a radiography assistant, it is likely that your employer will encourage you to take a qualification in clinical healthcare support. Things change fast within the health sector, so you’ll need to keep up-to-date with developments in radiography and health. There may be short training courses for you to attend. If you hope to become an assistant practitioner with wider responsibilities, and if you have the support of your employer, you might be able to study part-time for a relevant foundation degree or other higher education qualification.

You could progress to become an assistant practitioner, doing many of the tasks that could once be done only by qualified and registered radiographers. Assistant practitioners can apply for accreditation through the Society of Radiographers. Some NHS employers enable experienced assistant practitioners to take part-time BSc degrees in radiography (diagnostic or therapeutic) to become radiographers.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: This career is an exception to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information to an employer about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if they ask you to. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Qualifications

To get onto an advanced apprenticeship, you'll need GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these alongside your apprenticeship programme.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some entrants have experience in related care posts, for example, working as a healthcare assistant.

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