Medical photographyhttps://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/services/support-services/medical-photographyhttps://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/++resource++plone-logo.svg
Medical photography
Temporary opening hours: 9 February to 6 March 2026
Drop-in and clinic availability is temporarily changed during this period.
Drop-in clinic (Chelsea site)
Available Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30am–12:30pm and 1:30pm–4:30pm. The Medical Photography Department operates a first come, first served drop-in service.
The last available time slot for the morning drop-in clinic is 12:15pm
The last available time slot for the afternoon drop-in clinic is 4:15pm
Teledermatology clinics
Available Monday to Friday, 9:30am–12:15pm and 1:30pm–4:00pm. This clinic is for patients with booked appointments only.
Booking and contact details
If you have been referred by a clinician and are not attending the teledermatology clinic, please contact the Medical Photography Department to book an appointment:
Please note: the Medical Photography Department does not accept self-referrals. All patients must be referred by a clinician.
What we do
We photograph a wide range of medical conditions to help clinicians plan and monitor treatment. It is often useful for clinicians to have photographs before and after an operation or treatment, so you may need to visit the department more than once.
We photograph patients on hospital wards, in theatres and in our two professional photographic studios. We see patients from within the hospital and also via private referral from consultants and solicitors.
We also offer a range of photographic procedures, including:
Dermoscopic photography
Intraoral photography
Photographic clinical trials
Teledermatology
As medical photographers, we are registered and accredited by the Academy for Healthcare Science (AHCS).
Who will be able to see my photographs?
Only healthcare professionals involved in your treatment or hospital stay will have access to your medical photographs. These images form part of your confidential medical record and access is securely controlled and monitored.
At the time of photography we will ask for your consent. You can decide whether your images are used solely for your medical records, for educational use to support healthcare professionals, or for publication in a medical journal.
Referrals
Referrals to our service must be made by your clinician. We welcome both NHS and private patients, and you will be asked to complete a consent form on arrival.
Our specialities
Teledermatology
Our teledermatology pathway, delivered in collaboration with Dermatology, operates across both hospital sites Monday to Friday for patients referred by their GP via the two-week wait pathway for suspected skin cancer.
In 2022 we partnered with Skin Analytics to implement AI-driven teledermatology. This service involves taking specialist dermoscopic images of moles or lesions, enabling classification of 11 different lesion types, including malignant, pre-malignant and benign (harmless) skin lesions.
The teledermatology service has been recognised as a pioneering NHS initiative, using digital technology to accelerate the diagnosis and management of skin cancer. It supports the dermatology team by enabling faster discharge for patients with benign lesions, releasing over 35% of dermatologist appointments for more urgent cases.
Newborn photography
Our dedicated Newborn Photography Service, available to families staying on The Kensington Wing, offers a bespoke way to preserve your baby’s first precious moments.
Led by experienced photographers, each session is carefully planned using a curated shoot list tailored to your family. We capture your baby in a calm and comfortable environment, creating lasting memories of those early days.
We have an experienced videographer within the team who produces high-quality teaching and training videos in collaboration with a range of clinical specialties and departments.
These videos support staff education, showcase best practice and improve patient understanding through clear and engaging visual communication. From procedural demonstrations to patient experience stories, videography helps strengthen connections across our Trust and wider communities.
Sustainability sits at the heart of our service. All packaging is sourced from a zero carbon footprint supplier and uses FSC-approved, fully recyclable materials, aligning with the Trust’s Green Plan.
All printing is handled in-house to reduce waste and emissions, using FSC-certified paper and eco-friendly inks without compromising quality.
We prioritise maintenance and responsibly recycle or trade in equipment wherever possible to minimise unnecessary waste.
