The Society of Radiographers has published the findings of its census of the diagnostic radiography workforce in the UK.
The objectives of the census, carried out earlier this year, were to establish the size, structure, nature and vacancy rate of the workforce to inform future workforce planning.
Around 90 providers of diagnostic imaging responded to the online questionnaire posted on sor.org.
Some of the findings include:
- The average number of diagnostic radiography establishment staff by whole time equivalent (WTE) per respondent is 66.7.
- The average current vacancy rate for the diagnostic radiography workforce is 13.1% at the census date of 1 May 2016. This compares to an average current vacancy rate of 7.8% in the September 2014 census.
- The average current vacancy rate varies by UK country: England 13.5%, Scotland 4.6% and Wales 12.4%. (There is insufficient data to provide a figure for Northern Ireland.)
- 4.4% of respondents’ radiographic workers are due to retire in the next two years.
- Radiographic staff of band 7 (or equivalent) and above spend on average 50% of their time on non-clinical duties.
- On average each respondent has 4.2 members of staff (WTE) in postgraduate training in MRI, CT, ultrasound, breast or reporting.
- On average, each respondent has 11.7 radiographers, sonographers and/or nuclear technologists (headcount) carrying out advanced practice and 0.5 carrying out consultant-level practice as of the census date 1 May 2016.
- The main reasons respondents gave for radiographers leaving their posts are promotion in another centre, retirement and personal reasons.