What is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation therapy is one of the main methods used to treat patients with cancer. Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to shrink tumors and kill cancer cells. The radiation may be delivered by a machine outside the body, or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells.
About half of all cancer patients receive some type of radiation therapy sometime during the course of their treatment.
What does a Radiation Therapist do?
The radiation therapist is the main contact person for the patient during their radiotherapy treatment and has responsibility for the management and care of patients undergoing radiotherapy before, during and immediately after radiotherapy treatment involved in all aspects of the treatment. She/he works closely as a member of the multidisciplinary team. Interpersonal and support skills and an ability to work as a member of a team are essential trait of a radiation therapist.
Employment Opportunities for Radiation Therapists
Excellent employment opportunities for therapeutic radiography exists within the HSE, in the National Health Service, abroad in private medicine and in those companies concerned with the manufacture and sale of radiotherapy equipment.
There are also many research opportunities and opportunities for further education for suitably qualified graduates.
Recent data suggests very positive employment prospects for radiation therapists in Ireland (1)
First destination of graduates: employment in Ireland = 95%
First destination of graduates: entering full time employment: 95%
There were just under 190 radiation therapists working in Ireland in 2007. The annual projected recruitment until 2020 is expected to be met by domestic supply. (ie graduate output plus returnees from maternity leave is expected to exceed the recruitment by 13 WTE on average annually (1)). The National Cancer Control Programme and the programmes project team for implementing The National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO) are in the process of agreeing a national manpower for the reconfiguration of services and the new radiation oncology facilities that will be developed between now and 2014.
Irish employers.
www.hse.ie
www.beaconhospital.ie/careers.html
www.whitfieldclinic.ie/careers.asp
www.materprivate.ie
www.galwayclinic.com/
www.hermitageclinic.ie
There is a great scope for work abroad for Irish graduates. The National Health Service in the UK has a vast amount of vacancies that are filled annually by Irish graduates.
UK Employers
www.jobs.scot.nhs.uk
www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/
www.HSCrecruit.com/ni
Private Hospitals in the UK
BMI healthcare – includes a looking for a job section
Private healthcare UK includes a looking for a job section
UK Agencies
www.righealthcare.co.uk/rig/ahp – specialist radiotherapy recruitment agency
healthjobsuk.com is the UK’s largest independent database of jobs in the health sector.
Jennie Reeves recruitment – specialist recruitment agency for radiography
Society of radiographers – vacancy search facility. See also journal ‘Synergy News’ with information, CPD and professional issues
Pulse staffing – specialist recruitment agency for nursing and healthcare vacancies
Irish graduates often seek to work and travel abroad. Many Irish trained RT’s have found employment in Australia, where their degree is accredited by the Australian Institute of Radiography. Many have found work all over the world in places like Dubai, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia and Cyprus.
Working abroad
American Society of Radiology Technologists
Australian Institute of Radiography.
Canadian Association of Medical radiation technologists
International society of radiographers and radiology technologists
New Zealand Institute of medical radiation technology
ESTRO
Vacancies are prevalent for radiation therapists in companies that develop and sell radiotherapy products and equipment.
Medical equipment manufacturers & suppliers:
www.eleckta.com
www.siemens.com/
www.varian.com
Reference:
(1) A qualitative tool for workforce planning in healthcare: Example simulations report by the skills & Labour market research unit. FAS on behalf of the expert group on future skills needs. June 2009