Allied health professions (AHPs)

Dietitians work out what foods and drinks are suitable for individual patients to keep them healthy and treat or prevent certain illnesses.

This work may include:

• creating nutritional care plans
• counselling patients about diet
• working closely with patients who need therapeutic diets
• caring for people who require liquid food through a tube

Occupational therapy is the assessment and treatment of physical and psychiatric conditions using specific activity, with the aim of preventing disability and promoting independent living.

Occupational therapists work in hospitals and various community settings. They may visit service users and their carers at home to monitor their progress.

Physiotherapists are experts in movement, from the way you move your limbs to the way you breathe. Patients are normally referred to a physiotherapist by a doctor. The physiotherapist assesses the patient and decides on the most suitable treatment.

This treatment might involve:

• exercise
• movement
• hydrotherapy
• electrotherapy
• techniques such as massage and manipulation

When you have gained some clinical experience, you can specialise in a specific type of physiotherapy.

Podiatrists assess, diagnose and treat diseases and conditions affecting the feet and lower limbs.

Following assessment, treatment is focused on relieving symptoms and maintaining function.

Radiographers are an extremely important part of the healthcare team. Depending on the type of radiographer, they either diagnose injuries and diseases or treat certain conditions, such as cancer. See below.

Diagnostic radiographers produce high-quality images of organs, limbs and other parts of the body so that diseases and injuries can be diagnosed and assessed.

Therapeutic radiographers use high-energy radiation to treat cancer and other conditions. They target the right dose of radiation at the site of the disease.

Therapeutic radiographers work with other specialists to plan each patient’s course of treatment.

Speech and language therapists assess, diagnose and treat children and adults with communication and / or swallowing problems.

Their work covers many areas, including:

• speech
• language
• voice
• fluency
• swallowing
• reading and writing skills
• appropriate use of speech sounds

Some people may have a specific difficulty such as a stammer or voice problem.