Allied Health Professionals
Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) play a crucial role within the National Health Service (NHS). They are a diverse group of healthcare professionals who work alongside doctors and nurses to provide a wide range of specialised healthcare services. There are 15 different AHPs and Torbay employs the following AHP professions:
- Diagnostic Radiography
- Dietetics
- Occupational Therapy
- Operating Department Practitioner
- Orthoptics
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Paramedicine
- Physiotherapy
- Podiatry
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Therapeutic Radiography
The primary goal of AHPs is to improve patient care outcomes and promote the overall well-being of individuals accessing healthcare services. They apply their specialised knowledge and skills to assess, diagnose, and treat patients across various settings, including hospitals, community clinics, and people’s homes.
AHPs have a significant impact on patient care and recovery. They work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, often taking a holistic and person-centered approach. Their expertise is vital in areas such as rehabilitation, promoting independence, and preventing further health deterioration.
In addition to providing direct patient care, AHPs also contribute to research, education, and leadership roles within the NHS. They continuously enhance their professional skills through continuing education, research involvement, and adopting evidence-based practice.
The NHS recognises the value of AHPs and the integral role they play in healthcare delivery. It invests in their professional development, provides opportunities for career progression, and supports the formation of AHP-led services and initiatives.
Overall, AHPs are essential healthcare professionals within the NHS, working across various specialties to provide high-quality, patient-centered care. Their expertise, dedication, and collaboration with other healthcare providers contribute significantly to the well-being and improved outcomes of patients in the NHS.
For more information on some of our AHP roles, click on the headings below:
What is diagnostic radiography?
Diagnostic radiography uses technology take images of the insides of patient bodies to help diagnose conditions and guide treatments.
What they do
The team includes:
- Consultant Radiologists, who are medically qualified specialist doctors
- Diagnostic Radiographers, who are Allied Health Professionals (AHP) trained to carry out imaging procedures
- Advanced Practitioner Radiographers, who have undertaken additional training to allow them to carry out more complex diagnostic roles.
- Radiology Nurses, who support specialist procedures
- Clinical support staff, who are key to supporting patients before and after imaging.
- Administrative staff, who are vital in managing the processes that ensure that patients get their examinations and that all relevant information is available.
The team offer services at
- Torbay Hospital
- Community hospitals
And provide the following services:
- Plain film X-ray
- CT scans
- MRI
- Ultrasound scans
- Nuclear Medicine procedures
- Mammography
What qualifications do I need to work in diagnostic radiography?
Diagnostic Radiographers are part of the Allied Health Professionals team. To work as a Diagnostic Radiographer, you are required to undertake a degree. This can be at university, though there is some opportunity to do this as an apprentice employed by us.
On successful completion of the degree you will be able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council, this will enable you to work as a Diagnostic Radiographer in the NHS.
As you gain experience there will be opportunity to specialise in particular imaging modalities. This may lead to additional qualifications in support of those roles.
For some there will be the opportunity to train to MSc level allowing them to develop advanced skills that could include carrying out more complex imaging (e.g Ultrasound), issuing clinical reports for patient images or carrying out treatment procedures (e.g steroid injections into joints).
To provide the best support for our patients, the team has a number of other qualified and non-qualified roles. These include:
- Radiology Nurses, who are qualified and registered, but specialise in supporting the range of interventional procedures (e.g. biopsies, drainages, vascular studies/treatments).
- Administrative staff who manage all tasks associated with making patients details available to the clinical staff and all that is required to arrange patient bookings. This includes working on reception and contacting patients and referrers to manage the appointments.
- Radiology Support Workers who are key to managing patients visits; they work in all areas supporting the clinical team and patients before and after their examinations.
About Dietitians
A Dietitian is a qualified health professional who raises awareness of the importance of nutrition and apply evidence based dietetic practice in health promotion, disease prevention and treatment of acute and chronic medical conditions. They provide access to the best independent nutrition and dietetic advice and education for patients, carers and all health care professionals. They work within a strict code of conduct to translate the science of nutrition into practical diet therapy.
What they do
The team consists of Dietitians, support staff and administrators. They offer services at Torbay Hospital, inpatients, community clinics, health and wellbeing centres, weight management teams, and patient education groups. This includes:
- Gastroenterology
- Intensive Care
- Diabetes
- Weight management
- Food allergies and intolerances
- Tube feeding
- Stroke and rehabilitation
What qualifications do I need to work in dietetics?
To work as a Dietitian, you are required to undertake a degree. On successful completion of the degree you will be able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council, this will enable you to work as a dietitian in the NHS. You can also work within the team as an administrator or a support worker.
What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy helps you live your best life at home, at work – and everywhere else. It’s about being able to do the ‘occupations’ you need, want and have to do. That could mean overcoming challenges learning at school, going to work, playing sport or simply doing the dishes.
Occupational Therapists see beyond diagnoses and limitations. They focus on hopes and aspirations. They work with you to recommend adjustments to the way you live by looking at the relationship between the activities you do every day, the challenges you’re facing, and your environment. These adjustments are practical, realistic and personal to you, to help you achieve the breakthroughs you need to elevate your everyday life. This way of working is known as person “person-centred”.
Occupational Therapists work with adults and children of all ages with a wide range of conditions; most commonly those who have difficulties due to a mental health illness, physical or learning disabilities. They can work in a variety of settings including health organisations, social care services, housing, education, voluntary organisations or as independent practitioners. The aim is to improve a person’s physical and functional, psychological or cognitive state. Occupational Therapists assess functional ability and give advice on the best ways to carry out daily tasks. They also carry out treatment activities and recommend or provide equipment and adaptations if needed.
What does a Children’s Occupational Therapist do?
An Occupational Therapist will help children learn the best way to carry out daily tasks whether it’s personal care, play activities or school work that they are unable to do due to physical, developmental or learning difficulties.
What they do
The team consists of Occupational Therapists, assistant practitioners, support staff and administrators. They offer services at:
- Torbay Hospital – various ward settings, Emergency Department, Intensive Care
- Community hospitals
- Community Rehabilitation teams
- Intermediate Care teams
- Social Care teams
- Community Neurological Rehabilitation
- ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome services
- Rheumatology and hand therapy
- Children and family services in Devon
What qualifications do I need to work in occupational therapy?
To work as an occupational therapist, you are required to undertake a degree. On successful completion of the degree you will be able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council, this will enable you to work as a dietitian in the NHS.
You can also work within the team in a support role such as an administrator, a support worker or assistant practitioner.
About Operating Department Practitioners
These are professionals which care for patients before, during and after their operations. They help prepare patients for their anaesthetic and also prepare the environment, equipment and drugs for this whilst monitoring patients. During the surgery, they prepare all the instruments and equipment, and act as a link between the team and other parts of the theatre and hospital. After surgery, ODPs will ensure patients recover safely and comfortably and will continue to monitor patients until they are safe to leave the theatre suite.
What they do
The team consists of a large number of Operating Department Practitioners and work mostly within the theatres at Torbay Hospital, but also in other areas that involve surgical care, such as Pre-Assessment Units and Intensive Care.
What qualifications do I need to work as an ODP?
To work as an ODP, you are required to undertake a degree in Operating Department Practice. On successful completion of the degree you will be able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council, this will enable you to work as an ODP in the NHS.
What is Orthoptics?
Orthoptics is a profession which specialises in the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the visual system. Orthoptists assess patients with neurological conditions, such as stroke, brain tumours or multiple sclerosis. They help patients to manage the symptoms of their condition and can provide advice for the visual and general rehabilitation of these patients. Additionally, Orthoptist specialise in the treatment and management of childhood eye conditions such as amblyopia (reduced vision), childhood squints and nystagmus.
What they do
The team consists of Orthoptists, support staff and administrators. They offer services at:
- Newton Abbot Community Hospital
- Torbay Hospital
- Totnes Community Hospital
- Brixham Health and Wellbeing Centre
- Paignton Health and Wellbeing Centre
- Teignmouth Health and Wellbeing Centre
- Bidwell Brook School
- Mayfield School
They provide services for the following eye conditions:
- Amblyopia (lazy eye)
- Binocular Vision (how the eyes work together)
- Cornea
- Eye movement
- Eye socket injuries
- Glaucoma
- Learning difficulties (adult and children services)
- Learning difficulties (adult and children services) Added:
- Health centres: CCHC, Paignton, Dartmouth, Kingsteignton, Kingskerswell and Chudleigh.
- Low vision
- Paediatrics
- Reading difficulties
- Retinal diseases
- Strabismus (Squint)
- Stroke
What qualifications do I need to work in orthoptics?
To work as a Orthoptist, you are required to undertake a degree. On successful completion of the degree you will be able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council, this will enable you to work as an Orthoptist in the NHS.
You can also work within the team in a support role such as an administrator or a support worker.
What is podiatry?
Podiatry is one of the Allied Health Professions, providing assessment, evaluation and foot care for a wide range of patients with a variety of conditions both long term and acute. Within the NHS, many of these fall into high risk categories such as patients with diabetes, inflammatory arthritis, peripheral arterial disease and peripheral nerve damage where podiatric care is of vital importance, preventing disability, reduced mobility and amputations.
Podiatrists can specialise in the above high risk conditions, working closely with medical and surgical teams within the acute setting aswell as primary care and community nursing teams.
MSK podiatrists specialise in the biomechanics of the foot and individual gait analysis, custom made insoles and adapted footwear.
Nail surgery, using local anaesthetic is used to treat severe ingrowing toe nails and some podiatrists choose to develop their surgical skills further, becoming podiatric surgeons able to carry out forefoot surgery.
What they doThe team includes:
- Assistant practitioners, podiatrists, specialist and advanced podiatrists providing routine foot care and foot checks for patients at high risk of developing foot problems, ulcer care for patients with wounds, off-loading and MSK clinics, vascular and rheumatology clinics.
- Clinical support workers have a vital role supporting specialist podiatrists in ulcer clinics with nail surgery and inpatients.
- Administrative staff deal with referrals and appointments, coordinate the rota and order stock and equipment.
The team offer services at:
- Acute and community hospitals: Torbay, Newton Abbot, Dawlish, Ashburton, Teignmouth, Totnes and Brixham.
- Health centres: CCHC, Paignton, Dartmouth, Kingsteignton, Kingskerswell and Chudleigh.
What qualifications do I need to work in Podiatry?
In order to work as an NHS podiatrist you will have to complete a BSC Hons in podiatric medicine either face to face or via apprenticeship.
Assistant practitioners will have completed a 2 year diploma course.
Clinical support workers do not require any formal qualifications and are trained in-house.
What is Physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy uses physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social wellbeing.
What they do
The team consists of Physiotherapists, Assistant Practitioners, support staff and administrators. They offer services at:
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Care of the older person
- Consultant physiotherapy clinics
- Ear, Nose and Throat
- Emergency Assessment Unit
- Emergency Department
- Extended scope and clinical specialist physiotherapist clinics
- Intensive Care
- Learning Disabilities
- Medical wards
- Musculoskeletal teams
- Nerve conduction study clinics
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Pain Management
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Respiratory medicine
- Rheumatology / Hydrotherapy
- Specialist spinal clinic
- Surgical wards
- Women’s health / bladder and bowel
What qualifications do I need to work in physiotherapy?
To work as an Physiotherapist, you are required to undertake a degree. On successful completion of the degree you will be able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council, this will enable you to work as a Physiotherapist in the NHS.
You can also work within the team as an administrator, a support worker or assistant practitioner.
What is Radiotherapy?
Radiotherapy is the use of precise, carefully measured ionising radiation doses (high energy x-rays) to treat cancer. It can also be used to treat some non-cancerous conditions. It can be used on its own or with systemic anti-cancer treatments. Radiotherapy can be used:
- To attempt to cure cancer (Radical)
- To control or slow down the growth of cancer
- Or to relieve symptoms of cancer (Palliative)
Cancer cells are sensitive to radiation, so it is used to either destroy the cells, stop them growing or slow the growth as seen from the above definitions. Normal cells around the treatment area can also be affected and this is what causes the side effects of the treatment.
Radiotherapy can be given externally – delivers radiation from the outside of the body using a machine called a Linear Accelerator (commonly known as a Linac). This treatment is known as external beam radiotherapy and utilises a number of techniques (examples of these are volumetric modulated radiotherapy (VMAT) and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). It can also be given internally using Brachytherapy, which delivers radiotherapy to body cavities or tissues using a specialist machine.
Radiotherapy is usually given once a day and a course of treatment can be a single treatment (fraction) or over a number of weeks, depending on the area to be treated. It is normally given Monday to Friday. The Consultant in charge of the patient’s care will decide on the course of radiotherapy for that specific patient, following protocols which have been formulated from trials.
The treatment itself does not hurt but it is necessary for the patient to lie still and breathe normally, unless they have been told differently. The patient will have been informed of possible side effects of treatment in order to have given their consent to treatment.
What they do
The team consists of therapeutic Radiographers, support staff and administrators. They offer services at Torbay Hospital.
How to become a therapy Radiographer
There are a number of ways to become a therapy Radiographer; you must complete an approved undergraduate degree (3 years) or a Masters in Radiotherapy. The post-graduate qualification can take 2 years (after completing a first degree). Once qualified you must register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) before you are able to work.
The entry requirements for an undergraduate course are:
- 2 or 3 A Levels, including Physics, Chemistry or Biology / Human Biology
- 5 GCSEs (Grades A-C), including English Language, Maths and Science
The university may also accept other qualifications of a similar level, for example BTEC, HND or HNC, including science. Other qualifications can be considered for mature students.
It may also be possible to access therapy radiography through an apprenticeship at undergraduate degree level.
If you are interested and would like to know more, contact us on 01803 655380.
About Speech and Language Therapists
Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) provide treatment, support and care for adults and children who have difficulties with communication, or with eating, drinking and swallowing.
They are Allied Health Professionals. They work with parents, carers and other professionals, such as Doctors, Nurses, Teachers and Occupational Therapists.
What do Speech and Language Therapists do?
- SLTs provide life-improving treatment, support and care for adults and children who have difficulties with communication, eating, drinking or swallowing.
- SLTs assess and treat speech, language and communication problems in people of all ages to help them communicate better. They also assess, treat and develop personalised plans to support people who have eating, drinking and swallowing problems.
- Using specialist skills, SLTs work directly with clients and their carers and provide them with tailored support. They also work closely with teachers and other health professionals to develop individual treatment programmes.
What they do
The team consists of SLTs, support staff and administrators. They offer services at Torbay Hospital (inpatients and outpatients), community clinics, health and wellbeing centres, schools, nurseries, nursing homes and patients’ homes.
Intervention by an SLT seeks to:
- Maximise the communication/swallow potential of the individual
- Assist in psychological adjustment to the presenting condition
- Provide support and advice to parents, relatives and carers
What qualifications do I need to work as an SLT?
To become an SLT you need to train and study at a degree or postgraduate level, on an accredited speech & language therapy course. The course will include a wide variety of placement experiences. On successful completion of the course, you will be able to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), this will enable you to work as an SLT in the NHS.
You can also work with our team as an administrator or a support worker.