The Medical Photography department provides images for use in treating patients, teaching and for publication.  The service includes medical photography and video recording.

Why do I need medical photography / video?
There are a number of reasons a clinician may have asked us to take your photograph/recording, generally we are called to document your condition to help to provide the best treatment for you. The photographs/recordings taken form an accurate and up-to-date record of your condition, which can be used as a basis for monitoring your progress and for planning the best care pathway.

The areas to be recorded have been indicated on the request form. We will discuss the photographic views or recording with you before taking the photographs or video recording. You may be asked to remove items of clothing, jewellery or make-up.

Staff would like you to feel as comfortable as possible. Please feel free to ask your photographer if you have any questions or concerns.

Who will photograph me?
You will be photographed by an experienced Medical Photographer. We try to have both male and female photographers, please ask your photographer or at reception if you would prefer to be photographed by someone of the same sex. A friend or relative can accompany you if you wish, or we can provide a chaperone..

Do I have a choice?
Yes you do. If you do not wish to be photographed it will not affect your treatment or care in any way.

What happens to the photographs / video?

The photographs/recordings are taken as part of your health record, and remain on our secure imaging system.  If you have had photographs/recordings taken at another hospital, we may receive them to provide the staff involved in your care the progress of your condition.

You will have been asked to sign a ‘Consent to Medical Photographs/Recordings’ form. According to the level of consent you agree with, your photographs or video recording will be used for one or more of the following:

Level 2: Your medical records only
Level 3: Your medical records; NHS teaching and medical training
Level 4: Your medical records; NHS teaching and medical training; medical publications

A clinician may wish to use your photographs/recordings for teaching purposes such as teaching NHS healthcare staff about a particular condition. Or they may want to use the photographs for teaching other patients about the treatment options or outcomes of a medical intervention. Clinicians may want to use the photographs/recordings for publication into a medical journal or text book. Your photographs/recordings would not be used for any of these purposes without your direct written consent. Should you choose to give your consent to any of these options and you then change your mind, you have the right to withdraw consent at any time.

If you have any questions about consent or confidentiality please ask your photographer or contact Medical Photography using the details below.

If you have not signed your ‘Consent to medical photographs/recordings’ form please tell the Medical Photographer when you attend the department.

Can I have a copy?
Yes, you can request copies using the Trust’s Subject Access Request form.

Medical legal photographs and video recordings

If your solicitor needs copies of photographs and video recordings taken by the department please ask them make a Subject Access Request.

We can also take medical legal photographs and video recordings for compensation claims, please contact the department for further information and our price list.

North Bristol NHS Trust's (NBT) Medical Photography department provides photography and video recordings.

Clinicians may refer patients for photography and video to:

• Brunel building, Southmead Hospital, Level 3, Gate 38, where there are 2 purpose built studios
• On location in wards, theatres and clinics.

If you would like more information or have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.

The Medical Photography department undertakes a wide variety of both clinical and non-clinical photography and video recording. The department also offers an ophthalmic service including OCT and fundus photography.

Patients are either referred to the department, where we have studio and ophthalmic facilities, or we also visit wards, theatres, clinics and outpatients departments. 

Patients attending for photography at the Medical Photography department, G38 in the Brunel building do not need to book an appointment and are seen on a first come first served basis. If you have been referred with a ‘Consent to medical photography/recordings’ form then please bring this with you. Please arrive between 9.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9.30am and 4pm on Friday.

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All staff regularly participate in additional training. Some staff work in rotational posts that offer movement between specialities in order to develop a broad skill base.

All Physiotherapists working within the trust are fully qualified and have completed a three or four-year degree or diploma and are registered with the Health Professions Council.

Some physiotherapists have gone on to complete further postgraduate training and may have Masters of Science (MSc) or other degrees.

Head of Physiotherapy
Kat Binns
Kathryn.Binns@nbt.nhs.uk

• We have a fully equipped gym and offer rehabilitation and specialist classes.
• We have a Hydrotherapy pool for rehabilitation.
• We deliver specialised Vestibular rehabilitation services with close links to audiology.
• We have close relationships with orthopaedic and rheumatology consultants.
• We are involved in National Research Trials e.g. MINT trial researching whiplash disorders.
• Several staff are recognised nationally as lecturers in their specialist areas at both under and postgraduate levels.

North Bristol NHS Trust is the main centre for elective (planned) orthopaedic surgery for Bristol and its surrounding areas and we offer a comprehensive service. This includes rehabilitation following complex joint reconstruction, oncology resection, primary and revision joint surgery and Joint stabilising surgery.

North Bristol NHS Trust is the regional centre for renal care and we offer a dedicated renal physiotherapy service.

• We have an excellent dedicated inpatient amputee service with close links to the Disablement Services Centre.
• We are a specialist site for all medical respiratory services in North Bristol.
• We have well-equipped inpatient gyms.
• We offer a specialised cardiology physiotherapy service.
• We offer specialist lecturing to undergraduates on amputee rehabilitation and orthopaedics and trauma.
• We deliver a specialised stroke rehabilitation service that is led by a clinical specialist physiotherapist.

Extended scope practitioners are physiotherapy clinical specialists, with an extended scope of practice. This means that they can undertake duties such as ordering investigations like X-rays or blood tests and can refer to other health care professionals.

At North Bristol NHS Trust we have 11 Extended Scope Practitioners working alongside our rheumatology and orthopaedic consultants, with additional staff employed in neurosciences and accident and emergency.

We also have several staff working as advanced practitioners and clinical specialists in different areas e.g. stroke.

North Bristol NHS Trust Physiotherapy provides a skilled and dynamic service with a commitment to delivering high quality, evidence based care. We maintain our excellent standards by having a commitment to training and development, ensuring that all staff are highly skilled.

We have excellent facilities and deliver our services in variety of different areas including: 

• Medical Rehabilitation including stroke and neurological problems
• Head Injury 
• Surgical Rehabilitation including vascular surgery
• Intensive Care and Respiratory
• Burns and Plastics
• Hands
• Pain Services
• Major Trauma
• Acute and Community paediatrics
• Musculoskeletal outpatients
• Elective orthopaedic surgery e.g. hip replacements Rheumatology
• Women’s health.

AAC WEST

AAC WEST, as one of 15 national specialised services, is able to carry our Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Assessments. We receive funding from NHS England to meet the needs of both children and adults in the South West of England.

Who can refer?

Referrals to AAC WEST will only be accepted from speech and language therapists working with people with communication difficulties.

If you do not have a speech and language therapist involved with your care, then please contact your GP who can refer you to your local service.

Please note we do not accept referrals from Independent Therapists; you must be employed by a CCG or Statutory Body to make a referral. 

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria for NHS England augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) services

Eligibility criteria for NHS England specialised AAC services

Decision Chart: Guidance on Referral Criteria for Specialised AAC Services

How do I refer?

All referrals should be made using the appropriate referral form which must be fully completed, please ensure they are completed electronically and not by hand. They should also be accompanied by a short video and preferably by any relevant and current reports. Please note that if you are re-referring your patient, but they have not been seen by our service for more than 3 years please complete the full referral form to give us more up to date information to aid our assessment.

Download:

New/Full Referral Form (To be completed by Speech & Language Therapists only)

Current New/Full Referral Form being used and accepted by the service is Referral dated – January 2025

Symbols for supporting consent conversations about information sharing.

(LSLTs will need to create additional symbols e.g. for specific family members as needed.)

Re-referral Form (To be completed by Speech & Language Therapists Only)

Triage Loan Referral Form (To be complete by Speech and Language Therapists only)

Existing Service Users - If mounting only is required please use the following referral form (Can be completed by anyone e.g Family members, Friends, Care staff, Teachers etc):

Please note: we are unable to process any referrals that do not have the GP details or patients NHS number or are hand written. Any referrals received without these details will be rejected.

What about funding?

When someone is referred to AAC WEST, we check if they meet the national NHS specialised AAC services criteria. 

We review this during the assessment to see if they still meet the criteria. If they meet the criteria, AAC WEST will fund the AAC they need. If they don’t meet the criteria, they might still find AAC helpful, but the equipment should be funded by local services.

For more details about the national NHS Specialised services criteria see the open the National AAC Documents webpage, opens in same window
 

The hospital specialist palliative care team works alongside ward doctors, nurses and other health care professionals in supporting people with life-limiting illnesses (cancer and non-cancer) and their families. We can discuss illnesses and treatments that may be offered in as much or as little detail as our patients wish and we will support and listen to any concerns.

We can offer advice about managing symptoms and provide support for psychological, spiritual, social and practical concerns. Where appropriate we work closely with our colleagues in the local community palliative care team and hospice and with other specialists involved in your care. Our aim is to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients with life-limiting illness and their families.

The team work Monday to Saturday and some bank holidays 8.30 am to 4.30 pm. The team can be contacted by hospital teams outside of these hours for advice and support to ensure the best care for patients.

Consultants

Dr Anitia Brigham - Clinical Lead

Dr Laura Bernstein 

Dr Maggie Presswood

Dr Natasha Lovell

Specialist Doctors

Dr Katie Markkanen

Dr Jennifer Gardiner 

Clinical Nurse Specialists

Shona Mcintosh and Lisa Thomas Trust End of Life and Palliative Care Lead Nurses

Carol Cappell

Amanda Herman

Alice Monument

Lucy Rolt

Kate Allchorne

Elaine Walsh

Emma-Claire Breen

Administrator: Hannah Hopewell

Telephone: 0117 4140519

Email: palliativecare@nbt.nhs.uk

We will respond to all messages as soon as we are able but please note this may not be until the next working day. 

Conditions Treated:

• Colorectal diseases
• Colon and rectal cancer
• Inflammatory bowel disease (colitis and Crohns disease)
• Diverticular disease
• Colostomies and ileostomies
• Anorectal disorders (haemorrhoids, fissure, fistula, rectal prolapse, faecal incontinence)
• Hernias