What we do

We are a small team of professional qualified medical photographers, we are all registered members of the Institute of Medical Illustrators to BSc Hons level http://www.imi.org.uk and also on the AHCS (Academy of Healthcare Science) professional register https://www.ahcs.ac.uk/ 

Our department provides a clinical photography service for inpatients and outpatients. Often the photographs we take are used to illustrate before during and after treatment such as orthodontic work. We also photograph inpatients for problems such as pressure damage. 

All photos are sent to relevant secretaries to be filed in the patients’ Medical Records. 

Sometimes our photographs are used for medical research, teaching, publication, or even as evidence in court so it is highly important these photographs are filed correctly.

Where you can find us

Medical Photography
Sunderland Royal Hospital
Kayll Road
Sunderland
SR4 7TP

The Department is located in the same block as staff health, across the consultant’s car park on the opposite end to the staff gym.

How you can contact us

Medical Photography Reception: 42353
External: 0191 5699140

Key staff

Andrew Hall
Head of Department/ Senior Medical Photographer

Lauren Collingwood 
Medical Photographer 

Benta Maina
Trainee Medical Photographer                 

Rebecca Stockdale
Administration Assistant

Opening Hours

The department opening hours for medical photography are:

  • Monday - Thursday 8:55am – 5:00pm
  • Friday -  8:55am – 4:30pm
  • We are closed 12:30pm-1:00pm for lunch (no referrals will be taken during this time)

Sending an Outpatient to be Photographed

When sending us a patient to be photographed, please make sure the request form is correctly completed and the consent status ticked and signed. Without consent we are unable to photograph the patient.

The form is in triplicate. The green copy is to go into the patient’s notes; the rest of the form (the pink and white copies) comes with the patient to us.

If at all possible, please contact us beforehand just to make us aware that the patient is on their way.

As two of our three photographers are male, for any intimate pictures of female patients, where removal of clothing is required, please always please check if you need to send a chaperone along with the patient when attending for photography.

Non Accidental Injury

If a non-accidental injury is suspected, and photographs are required please contact the department to discuss the individual case, some bruising can be photographed on the ward but widespread bruising is better to be done in the studio with the correct lighting to show up all areas.

This is a sensitive matter for all concerned. It’s really helpful for us if the card can be filled in correctly prior to the referral being made and if the patient is required to come to the studio only sending a nurse along with the patient and the card.

Please state on the photography card when the photographs are required by.

If other parties require copies of the photographs, such as social services or the police, they will need to contact the department directly on 0191 5699140 to request the prints.

In-Patient Referrals for Photography

When requesting medical photography for an in-patient, please fill in all details on the request form and have the card signed by the patient with the relevant consent status ticked. If the patient is unable to sign the card, the person in charge of the ward, such as the sister, can do this for the patient and state the reason for the patient not being able to sign.

To make the referral, contact us on 42353, we will require:

  • The photography card number (top left hand side of the card) 
  • The ward which the patient is on 
  • The patient name 
  • Area/s to be photographed 

Once the referral has been made, please keep the card on the nurses station or in the patient notes to avoid the request card being misplaced and not being available for the photographer when they arrive.

All referrals should be made prior to 12:30pm for the photographs to be taken on the same day; any referrals after 12:30pm will be done the following day.

Other photography

The Medical Photography department can also arrange to take other types of photography. Such as:

  • Equipment 
  • Locations 
  • Procedures 
  • Still births 
  • Specimens 
  • Copying existing images (subject to copyright restrictions) 
  • Video (interviews, procedures, operations) 

However, we do not undertake public relations photography. If you need public relations photography please contact the public relations officer via switchboard.

Obtaining Consent

We have a medical photography consent form that needs to be marked and signed for all work that we are requested to undertake.

Our request cards are designed to ensure we obtain fully informed consent. It is therefore important that medical staff sending a patient to be photographed explain to them why this has to be done and what the photographs may be used for.

There are three levels of consent:

A – Full*
B – Records and teaching
C – Records only

* Full consent includes records, teaching and publication, but not if there are recognisable facial views.

To publish images of recognisable facial views, the requestor must obtain specific written consent from the patient prior to publication.

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