Representatives for the SoR today spoke to radio stations from across the country to emphasise the significant role radiographers play in healthcare.
Ahead of World Radiography Day, sponsored by Elekta, this Saturday 8 November, Richard Evans, CEO of the SoR, and Katie Thompson, president of the society, visited On Air Media Group’s studios in Fitzrovia, London, to discuss the event and the work of the SoR.
This World Radiography Day, the society is celebrating the skill and dedication of radiography professionals as well as calling attention to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
'Healthcare demand is high'
Katie and Richard emphasised the benefits and importance of radiographers' roles in tackling the high waiting lists which the NHS is struggling with daily.
Richard explained: “We know that healthcare demand is high. The number of people that need to be trained for radiography is also high – a lot has been done to improve the number of routes into radiography.
“The other factor is hard economics. Not enough money has been put into training radiographers. At the moment, a lot of hospitals are cash-strapped. Vacancies are not being filled as quickly as they need to. All of these things are contributing to the shortage.”
Richard and Katie were also asked about the growing role of AI in radiography, and whether it could eventually replace radiographers.
Katie explained: “AI is already being used to support radiographers in their roles, but it is a collaborative technology that will always need human input. The role of the radiographer may change over time, but it cannot be replaced with AI.”
'Hello, my name is...'
This year also marks the SoR's relaunch of its “Hello, my name is…” campaign, reaffirming the importance of empathy and connection in every patient interaction.
Katie explained: “We want to raise the profession of radiographers by telling patients who we are and what we’re doing. We also want to show the patients we’re giving them time when they come for their examinations.
“It’s really important when someone comes into the department that they know who you are and what you’re doing. It can really relieve anxiety for patients if they know that you’re giving them time and attention to explain what’s happening.”
Find out more about World Radiography Day sponsored by Elekta online now.
(Image: Katie Thompson and Richard Evans, by Eva Slusarek)