During your visit to Clinical Photography at the Northern Care Alliance, you may be asked to have some clinical photographs or video taken. The photographs are taken in a standardised way, to support clinical assessments, allowing healthcare professionals to compare any previous images taken. The photographs are uploaded to a confidential electronic patient record and may be used to aid diagnosis, to help monitor the development of a clinical condition, for referral purposes, or for planning further treatment.
Clinicians may also wish to use patient photographs for clinical teaching or publication, but this will only be done with a patient’s explicit consent. The photographs are taken in our dedicated photography studio and on location in wards, clinics and operating theatres.
You will be seen by a photographer as soon as possible. If the photographer is with another patient, there may be a short wait. The photographer will discuss with you the photographs to be taken and explain the different views needed.
You may be asked to remove items of clothing, jewellery, and if we are photographing your hands/nails you will be asked to remove nail varnish or make-up so that a good, clear photograph can be taken. A changing room and gown will be provided, and a chaperone can be present if you wish. If you prefer a photographer of a particular gender, please ask when you book your appointment.
Before any photographs can be taken there is a consent form for you to sign. You can change your mind about consent at any point and can withdraw without affecting your treatment. The clinician may advise you on consent, however it is your decision. There are three levels of consent:
Consent level A: Medical records only.
Consent level B: Used for clinical teaching and research purposes and your confidential treatment records.
Consent level C: Used for publication that may be seen by the public, clinical teaching and research purposes and your confidential treatment records. Your personal details will never be included.
Dermatology and thermoscopic imaging - Dermoscopy photography is a diagnostic technique which allows greater visualisation of structures of the skin which are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. It can be used to examine moles and pigmented lesions.
Breast imaging – to document augmentation, reduction and pre & post-surgery
Rhinoplasty imaging – pre and post surgery
Dental imaging – Before, during and after treatment
Medico-legal – Patients can be referred to us for medico-legal purposes. We work with a wide range of external agencies to provide precise photographic evidence.
As your photographs are part of your medical records you can request to have copies. Please ask a member of the photography team and they will provide you with an access to records form, which you need to complete.
If you have been to an outpatient appointment and have been requested to have clinical photographs taken you will have been given a clinical photography request form which you must sign and bring with you at the time of your appointment, or we will not be able to photograph you.