Dundee Induction Pack

Scottish Medical Physics and EngineeringTrainee Network

General InformationWelcome to Medical Physics at NHS Tayside! During your training, you will be based atNinewells Hospital, however occasional travel to Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI) andStracathro Hospital may be required.

IT and Security:You will require a security pass to get around Ninewells Hospital. A form and instructionsfor applying for access will be provided. When you arrive, you will receive an NHS loginfor NHS computers, an NHSmail account, and an LDAP password which allows access toStaffNet. To receive an encrypted memory stick, you must apply through the IT ServiceDesk on StaffNet.

Radiation Safety:When working in departments using ionising radiation, a personal dose monitor isrequired to be worn at all times. This is issued on a monthly basis. You are also requiredto read and sign the Local Rules for areas you will be working in.

Annual Leave:You are entitled to 27 days of annual leave from April to March the following year whichyou can request using a pink form. This should be signed by the head of the section youare currently working in. In addition, there are eight bank holidays. In NHS Tayside, thesefall on 1st and 2nd January, the first Monday in April and May, the fourth Monday in July,the second Monday in October, and 25th and 26th December.

Courses and Conferences:Each trainee has a training budget which can be used for course and conference fees,travel, and accommodation. This can be applied for using a green form which is signedby the Head of Medical Physics. Time away from the department is requested using apink form and circling the training option.

Lunch:Food and drink can be purchased from shops in the main concourse, the Level 5canteen, and the Aroma Café next to the Ian Lowe Centre on Level 6 in the medicalschool. Trainees and past trainees regularly meet up for lunch in the Ian Lowe Centre oroutside if the weather is nice. A good opportunity to get to know your colleagues and askany questions you may have!

Main Office:The main Medical Physics office is situated just outside the entrance to the department.Here you can find Angela Brown and Paula Taylor, as well as the green and pink formsyou will need to fill in from time to time. There is also a trainee pigeonhole which willhave your monthly personal dose monitor and payslips.

Medical School Library:All NHS staff are entitled to membership of the University of Dundee Medical SchoolLibrary. You can request membership forms from the Library Office - you will alsorequire your NHS pass and pay slip.

In NHS Tayside, there are five MRI scanners: two 1.5T in Main Radiology and one 3.0T atthe Clinical Research Centre at Ninewells Hospital, one 1.5T at PRI and one 1.5T atStracathro Hospital. There are five MRI physicists: Stephen Gandy (overall trainingcoordinator), Steve Nicholas, Shelley Henderson (placement coordinator), JenniferMacfarlane and Jennifer Summersgill (trainee). You will spend ten weeks in the MRIdepartment as part of your Imaging with Non-Ionising Radiation placement.

Radiation Physics (RP):Radiation Physics delivers Radiation Protection services across NHS Tayside and theUniversity of Dundee Medical School. There are five RP physicists and one technician:Mark Worrall (Head of Radiation Physics), Janice O'Neill (placement coordinator). SiobhanMcVey, Megan van Loon, Amy Oana (trainee) and Jarek Zawacki (technician). You willspend ten weeks in RP as part of your Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Protectionplacement.

Nuclear Medicine (NM):Nuclear Medicine delivers imaging in SPECT and PET, radioisotope therapies andlaboratory tests. There are three gamma cameras and a PET/CT scanner in the ClinicalResearch Centre. Although Ninewells does not have an onsite cyclotron, a PET service isdelivered three days per week. There are four NM physicists: Clare Monaghan, EdHockaday (placement coordinator), Glen Gardiner and Thomas Biggans. You will spendten weeks in NM as part of your Imaging with Ionising Radiation placement.

Radiotherapy Physics (RT):Radiotherapy has three linear accelerators: two Varian TrueBeams and one VarianClinac. There is also a Pulsed Dose Rate (PDR) brachytherapy service. At Ninewells,RayStation Treatment Planning System is used. There are eight RT physicists: SankarAndiappa Pillai (Head of Radiotherapy Physics), Colin Mackay, Emma McIntosh(placement coordinator), Adrian Lonsdale, Natalie McInally, Megan Couper, Sarah Buttand Megara Hampson.

DepartmentsMagnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI):

Photobiology:The Photobiology Unit (PBU) was established in 1973 to meet the needs ofphotosensitive patients across Scotland. PBU provides diagnostic, therapeutic andmanagement services for patients with photosensitive conditions. During yourfoundation year, you will visit PBU for a two week attachment. There is one physicist atPBU: Ewan Eadie (Head of Scientific Services for Photobiology and Optical Radiation).

Ultrasound:A second attachment is provided in Ultrasound. This involves a mixture of lectures at theUniversity of Dundee, clinical observation at Ninewells and a number of QA sessions inEdinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Key ContactsTrainee Network Representative: Christopher Taylor (c.taylor3@nhs.net)Training Coordinator: Stephen Gandy (stephen.gandy@nhs.net)MRI Placement Coordinator: Shelley Henderson (shelley.henderson1@nhs.net)RP Placement Coordinator: Janice O'Neill (janice.oneill@nhs.net)NM Placement Coordinator: Ed Hockaday (ed.hockaday@nhs.net)RT Placement Coordinator: Emma McIntosh (emma.mcintosh1@nhs.net)PB Placement Coordinator: Ewan Eadie (ewan.eadie@nhs.net)

Current TraineesThere are currently four other Medical Physics trainees in NHS Tayside. 

Jennifer SummersgillSpecialism Trainee - MRI

jennifer.summersgill@nhs.net

Amy OanaFoundation/Specialism Trainee

amy.oana@nhs.net

Christopher TaylorFoundation/Specialism Trainee

c.taylor3@nhs.net

Katherine McLellanMSc/Foundation Trainee

katherine.mclellan@nhs.net