The Radiography Manifesto
Practical, realistic and positive solutions to address the NHS workforce crisis
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Practical, realistic and positive solutions to address the NHS workforce crisis
Download NowOur manifesto for a world-class health and social-care system has been developed in consultation with our members across the four devolved nations. This manifesto offers practical, realistic and positive solutions to the workforce crisis in our NHS – a crisis so acutely visible through the lens of radiography.
It outlines the critical interventions – some of which are overdue and essential now, others which require longer-term implementation and commitment – necessary to help stabilise and then rebuild our NHS.
Many MPs and decision makers do not realise the central role radiographers play in repairing the NHS. We hope to increase their understanding of radiography – and of the workforce crisis facing radiography departments across the country.
But we also want to offer solutions, before and after a general election, to help MPs and decision makers to make better political choices. We want to work in partnership with them, in order to improve the NHS and its outcomes for patients and communities.
Representing more than 33,000 members, the Society of Radiographers is the professional body and trade union for all those working in medical imaging and radiotherapy.
Nine out of 10 patients in the NHS are supported by a radiography professional – who carry out X-rays, ultrasound, MRI and CT scans, as well as working in radiotherapy services as therapeutic radiographers, and in nuclear medicine.
Our members work in the NHS across all four nations, at all grades. This manifesto has separate versions for each of the devolved nations. However, the common thread is the need to secure enough staff with the right skill mix to meet the continuing rising demand for imaging and radiotherapy treatment. Meeting this demand will require a range of strategic policies and resources – as outlined in the manifesto.
Radiographers are central to addressing the ever-growing NHS waiting lists. More than 1 million people are waiting for scans. Over 20% are waiting more than 6 weeks, with over 70,000 waiting over 13 weeks.
Early diagnosis and early treatment saves lives, time and money for the taxpayer. It’s what we would all want for our family and friends. The failure to invest sufficiently in increasing the radiography workforce capacity over the last two decades is the biggest reason why the UK’s waiting lists are significantly longer than in countries such as Germany and France – and our health outcomes are worse than in most other leading economies. Our country needs our political leaders to make different and better political choices.
Our members deserve better. Our patients deserve better.
As 9/10 hospital patients will be treated by a radiography professional or support worker, it's likely you've met one of our members!
Learn about the the important work they do via our professional magazine Synergy or the featured stories below.
Rachel Baldwin-Cleland on why she became a radiographer, and how attitudes towards the profession have changed.
Professor Heidi Probst was named in the 2023 New Year Honours List for her contribution to research in radiography.
The South West Radiotherapy Late Effects Service has helped improved their patients quality of life in a very short space of time.
We set the standards that become the policies adopted and acclaimed by governments and health professionals worldwide. Visit our policy and guidance library.
The goal of the ECF is to improve outcomes for patients through the education and training of the workforce.
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Our recommendations to help services maximise the contribution of their diagnostic imaging support workforce.
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