Tell me about it
Medical physicists work mainly in hospitals, applying physics and technology to patient diagnosis and treatment.

While the work of individual medical physicists can vary widely, it will usually involve developing, operating or maintaining equipment that helps medical staff to:
· diagnose disease and injury in areas such as radiography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging;
· treat some cancers or other disorders with radiotherapy or lasers;
· measure processes within the body in areas such as audiology, cardiology, neurophysiology, respiratory function, bone densitometry and vascular assessment.

Other aspects of the work might include providing radiation protection advice and services for staff and patients, selecting medical equipment for the hospital as a whole, training staff in the use of equipment and explaining procedures to patients. Medical physicists often work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with other clinical scientists, clinicians and technologists.

Entry level
To enter the world of medical physics, you would need a first or upper second class honours degree in a physical science or engineering subject, such as physics, electrical engineering, electronic engineering, computer science or computer engineering.

You could find it advantageous to enter with a postgraduate qualification - either an MSc or PhD - following successful completion of your first degree.

There is no upper age limit for entry to this work.

Making the grade
A first position as a medical physicist in the NHS is usually as a Grade A trainee, with initial training at this grade lasting two years. Training takes place in an accredited department, including study for an MSc in Medical Physics, leading to the Diploma of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM). You can then apply for promotion to a Grade B position, which will involve a further two-year training period in a specialist field.

All medical physicists working as clinical scientists in the NHS must be registered with the Health Professions Council, and would normally be usually eligible for registration after two years of training in a Grade B post. Training can lead to corporate membership of IPEM, Chartered Scientist or Chartered Engineer status.

Personal qualities
Medical physics is a fast developing field, requiring you to maintain a keen interest in keeping up to date with new discoveries and the latest advances in technology.
You should have an enquiring mind and the ability to lead research and development work, combined with a professional approach to your work and high ethical standards.
The safety and even the lives of your patients and colleagues may depend on your decisions and advice, so you must be able to cope with high levels of responsibility.

It goes without saying that your passion for science and computing must be linked with a concern for the health and well being of people in the community.

Looking ahead
There are over 1,500 medical physicists in the UK, most of whom work in the NHS. Others work for private hospitals, medical equipment manufacturers, research organisations and government organisations.

The total number of medical physicists in the UK has risen in recent years, and continues to expand. The NHS has a central recruitment centre for clinical scientist trainees, including medical physicists, known as the Clinical Scientists Recruitment Centre.

Once you have been appointed to a Grade B position, any further progression is on merit and performance. Only a small number of medical physicists are appointed to Grade C positions. These positions have equivalent status to a medical consultant, and usually involve the management of a scientific department or a major departmental section.

You could move into work outside the NHS, or go into training. It is common for medical physicists to move between employers in order to progress. There are some opportunities to work abroad.

Alternative suggestions
Other possibilities would include biomedical engineer, clinical biochemist, doctor, electrical/electronic engineer, optometrist, pharmacologist or radiographer.

Take-home pay
A Grade A trainee in the NHS currently earns between £17,500 and £22,500 a year.
At Grade B, the main professional grade, you should earn between £23,000 and £43,000 a year.

Grade C staff earn between £41,500 and £67,000 a year. An additional allowance is paid to medical physicists working in or near London. Salaries in the private sector can be higher.

Effects
In the NHS, you would normally expect to work a 37 hour week, from Monday to Friday, although on-call evening or weekend work is sometimes necessary in some specialisms.

Sources of information
NHS Careers: www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
NHS Scotland: www.nhscareers.scot.nhs.uk
Health Professions Wales: www.hpw.org.uk
Clinical Scientists Recruitment Centre: www.nhsclinicalscientists.info
Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine: www.ipem.ac.uk
Northern Ireland Regional Medical Physics Agency: www.n-i.nhs.uk/medicalphysics

CRCI: JF