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Medical Illustration

Clinical Photography is a specialist profession that supports other healthcare professionals within the medical environment to monitor clinical conditions.

Our team photograph a wide variety of medical conditions to support healthcare staff and form part of the patient’s notes. They are often used as part of the planning process, alongside other tests such as x-rays, scans and blood tests.

Many photographs taken by clinical photographers are also used for teaching doctors, nurses and other medical professionals.

Sometimes, with your permission, photographs will be published in a medical book or journal.

For more information about clinical photographers, visit the Institute of Medical Illustrators website

Download the Clinical Photography leaflet for more information.

What we do

  • Clinical photography
  • General photographic services (including staff photo board)
  • Non-accidental injuries photography within the Trust
  • Graphic design
  • Medical art
  • Reprographic services
  • Videography

Who will see my photographs?

Only healthcare professionals who are involved with your treatment or stay in hospital can see your medical photographs. These images will become part of your confidential medical records - access to these is securely controlled and monitored.

What to expect

On arrival to the department you will be booked in and your personal details will be checked.

You will then be asked into the studio where the clinical photographer will explain the procedure to you and ask for your consent to be photographed.

Depending on which part of the body needs photographing, you may be asked to remove jewellery, make-up and /or clothing. The photographer will also explain and show you how you will need to sit or stand.

We make every effort to maintain our patients’ dignity but it is important that we photograph your clinical condition as accurately as possible with the minimum of distraction.

Please note: The flash lighting used will be quite bright.

Sometimes mirrors and retractors may be used to assist with seeing into the mouth and hair bands or grips may be used to keep hair away from the face.

If you feel uncomfortable at any time or wish to have a chaperone present please tell the photographer.

Chaperoning policy

On occasions, when photographs of a sensitive nature are required, it may not be possible for the same sex photographer to take the photographs. On these occasions a chaperone will be present. Often the chaperone will be behind a screen and will concentrate on the photographer’s actions and not you, the patient.

If you are at all unhappy with being photographed by a photographer of the opposite sex, we will be happy to re-book your appointment. However, if the condition is likely to change before a new appointment is made it would be advisable to go ahead with the existing appointment.

For further information about East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust’s consent, read our Clinical Photography and Video Recording policy.

For more details about consent and ownership of photos, please visit the 'Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)' tab above.

How to find us

The Medical Illustration Department is outside in a porta-cabin at K&C (please note: building and repair work may be in progress in the Estates area and extra care may be needed).

  • Come to the main K&C hospital entrance marked ‘OUT PATIENTS’

  • On entering ‘Out Patients’ turn left and walk through the ‘Out Patients’ Department going past the Clinics on your left and Pharmacy to your right

  • At the end of this corridor turn right and then first left into the Estates corridor in the industrial zone

  • Follow this corridor and turn first right

  • Take the first red door on your left leading outside and go straight ahead to Medical Illustration.

For more information on how to get to Kent and Canterbury Hospital, visit our Find us page.

Contact us

Telephone: 01227 866461
Email: ekh-tr.medphoto@nhs.net

Medical Illustration Department
East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Kent and Canterbury Hospital (K&C)
Ethelbert Road
Canterbury
Kent, CT1 3NG

Opening hours

Monday - Friday: 8am - 5pm (studio open between 8am and 4pm) (Closed for lunch between 12:30 and 1:00pm)
Bank Holidays: Closed

Frequently asked questions

Who owns the photographs that are taken?

EKHUFT owns the copyright and it is illegal for any unauthorized person to make copies of your photographs. Further information can also be found in the Trust’s consent policy.

If you wish to be sent a copy of your photographs, you will need to apply to the Medical Records Department, who will request you complete a form and ask for an administration fee. The exception to this rule will be mole maps and private patients (a fee still applies) but you will need to make the request when you attend for Photography at the Medical Photography Department.

For further information about any of the clinical services we provide, please contact the Medical Illustration department.

What is the Trust's consent policy on photos of patients?

Photographs are taken at your consultants or senior nurses request and should be explained by them why they require the photographs. The request should be documented in your notes. If the photographs are required for teaching/publication an East Kent Hospitals consent form will be used.

We have three levels of consent;

  • Record only

  • Teaching

  • Publication

If you change your mind about the level of consent you originally gave, please contact the Medical Photography and Illustration Department in writing. On receipt of your letter the Medical Photography Department will amend your records where possible according to your wishes.

Please note that we cannot destroy the photographs from your records as we have a legal requirement to keep them, but we can limit access to them.

In addition you must be aware that once a photograph has been published, especially in a journal, they will be accessible on the web and it will be hard to monitor external access to these photographs.

Access to Records department

Should a patient require copies of their images, they should contact Access To Records at QEQM. Please use the contact information below:

Access to Records Department 
The Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital
St Peters Road
Margate
Kent
CT9 4AN

Please note: Office hours are 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).