Consultant radiographers from across the UK met in Birmingham last month to discuss the future of consultant and advanced practice standards, and how to embed these, not only in radiography but across the whole allied healthcare profession spectrum.
A wide variety of speakers presented their views and thoughts, offering the delegates advice throughout on how to build on the amazing work that has already been done in constructing solid advanced practice standards in radiography, and how to progress this going forward.
Kicking off the morning session, chaired by Sue Williams, Chair of the Consultant Radiographer Advisory Group, Bev Harden, AHP Lead for Health Education England, told delegates that advanced practice radiographers’ voices needed to be heard, so that those outside the profession know radiography is a workforce that is here to stay. “We have got to provide career paths for the next generation, so we need to break down barriers, standardise key pathways and ensure that people outside know what we do and understand what our roles are.”
Health Education England’s Head of Workforce Transformation North, Kevin Moore, told delegates that creating new models of care, and radically changing workforce capacity and capability would be needed to tackle the shortfall in healthcare workers that we can expect over the next 20 years.
After lunch, Dr Nick Woznitza, Clinical Academic Reporting Radiographer chaired a lively session discussing many elements of advanced and consultant practice. The afternoon’s speakers included Julie Nightingale, Professor of Radiography at Sheffield Hallam University, who highlighted the need for research within the profession and the importance of disseminating that research through presentations and publications; Laurence Skermer, a consultant radiographer whose ‘road to Damascus’ moment revealed to him the vital role that research should be playing in every consultant’s day to day practice; and Louise Small, Consultant Radiographer at University Hospitals in Birmingham, who told delegates about an NIHR funded research project that she recently completed, that has transformed her outlook on her own practice and that of her colleagues in the department.
Clare Simcock, Lead Radiographer and Clare McLaren, Consultant Radiographer at Great Ormond Street Hospital, shared their unique experiences of a role extension programme and the creation of a consultant radiographer post within their hospital, and how other trusts could use this as a model for their own organisations.
Delegates and speakers all agreed that the study day had been an excellent learning experience, providing them with much to think about for the future. A big thank is extended to Fodi Kyriakos and InHealth Reporting Radiography for sponsoring the day.
Another study day has been planned for 2019.
Look out for full coverage of the study day in the November issue of Synergy News.