Brief Overview
The Clinical Media Centre (CMC) provides a range of media based services for the Trust incorporating Medical Photography, Medical Illustration and Retinopathy Screening.
Based in Sussex House along the road from the County site, our range of services extends from graphic design, poster production, colour photocopying, binding and laminating facilities, through photography and clinical photography to video and DVD production.
In addition the CMC run the Brighton and Sussex Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme.
Contact details
Postal address:
Sussex House, 1 Abbey Road, Brighton BN2 1ES
Telephone numbers:
The Royal Sussex County Hospital - 01273 696955
Clinical photography - extn. 4319
Diabetic Retinopathy Screening - extn. 4962
DVD and video production and non-clinical photography - extn. 4318
Graphic design, illustration and poster production - extn. 4319
Laminating, photocopying and binding and any other enquiries - extn. 4319
Email addresses:
Department email address - cmc@bsuh.nhs.uk
Head of Department - nick.white@bsuh.nhs.uk
Senior administrator (general enquiries and clinical photography requests) - diana.gummer@bsuh.nhs.uk
Graphic design - jessica.lewis@bsuh.nhs.uk and jane.barkway@bsuh.nhs.uk
DVD and video production and non-clinical photography - james.lewis@bsuh.nhs.uk
Diabetic retionpathy screening - kathryn.birch@bsuh.nhs.uk
Clinic times / opening hours
Monday to Thursday
8.30am - 5.00pm
Friday
8.30am - 4.30pm
Information for patients
Why have I been asked to have my photographs taken?
It may have been a surprise to you to be asked to have your photographs taken whilst in hospital, but in fact this is not an unusual request. In Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals thousands of patients are photographed by clinical photographers from the Clinical Media Centre every year.
It is most likely that your photographs will be used as a pictorial record of your condition and will form a part of your notes so that the progress of your illness or disease can be monitored visually in addition to any other tests which may be done. This will mean that the doctor or other health professional can return to the notes and look at the photographs on any subsequent visits to see how your condition has changed.
Some photographs such as those of certain eye conditions are used for diagnostic purposes to help the doctor understand what is happening. These photographs help a doctor make the decision on the best treatment for that particular patient. Clinical photographs can also be used in the planning of operations, often alongside other tests such as x-rays.
How else will they be used?
You may be asked if your photographs can be used for teaching purposes. In these circumstances the photographs will only be used for medical education, it is also possible that you will be asked if your photographs can be used for publication too. In both these cases you will be asked to give signed consent.
Does this mean my condition is serious or very unusual?
Many very common conditions are photographed regularly and so - although you have been asked to have your photograph taken - this does not necessarily mean your condition is serious or very unusual and should not be a cause of worry.
Do I have to have my photograph taken?
Your doctor should have explained the reasons for having the photographs taken but you are under no obligation to have this done and can refuse at any point. Even if you decide afterwards that you would prefer not to have the photographs in your notes you can ask to have them removed. However, it is important to remember that there is usually a good reason your doctor has asked for the photographs and so it is a good idea to discuss this with them.
Who will see my photographs?
Your photographs will be seen by the clinical photographer who takes them and possibly other members of the clinical photography team as they process the images and get them to your notes. Once they are in your notes only health professionals who are involved with your treatment will see them. If you have agreed that your photographs may to be used for teaching then they may be seen by health professionals in training. If you have agreed to the photographs being published then your photographs may appear in a medical textbook, journal or on a medical teaching website.
