The Society of Radiographers has written to the health secretary calling for urgent discussions to end the radiography workforce crisis.
In an open letter to the Secretary of State for Health Steve Barclay, SoR CEO Richard Evans said he hopes to avoid further industrial action, and set out measures to end the current dispute.
Earlier this month, SoR members in England held 24-hour strike action over the workforce shortages and pay stagnation blighting radiography.
Emergency recruitment
In the letter, sent on Thursday, 10 October, Mr Evans urged Mr Barclay to enter into discussions with SoR, and to implement pay restoration and emergency recruitment payments to help tackle the staff shortages. Mr Evans added that SoR is willing to involve the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) to handle mediate the talks.
Mr Evans said: “It remains our hope that further action will not be necessary. Meaningful discussions are now urgently required, resulting in a tangible offer for us to convey to our members. This should include measures to address the radiography retention crisis. The aim of the meeting must be to remove the risk of further action and settle our dispute.”
“We have listened carefully to the minister’s input to discussions so far. It is our view that you recognise the radiography workforce crisis as a reality. You clearly understand the central importance of radiographers to any strategy to improve early diagnosis and intervention. This recognition was also reflected in your announcement of more investment in radiography equipment at the [Conservative] party conference.”
Key proposals
The letter sets out four key measures to help tackle the current workforce crisis in radiography within the NHS:
- Commitment to a long term pay restoration programme.
- Improved starting pay for radiographers from 2024.
- Investing in career progression and promotion.
- Supporting emergency recruitment and retention payments.
On 3 October, members of the Society of Radiographers across England held strike action over current working conditions in the NHS, joining doctors from the British Medical Association (BMA). The strike action was held to coincide with the Conservative Party Conference, held in Manchester.
No longer an afterthought
During his address to the conference delegates, Mr Barclay announced plans for investment in new technology to help ease pressures on the NHS - proposals that failed to address the lack of investment in the workforce, according to SoR.
In the open letter, Mr Evans added: “We reiterate that our members need to see evidence that the radiography workforce crisis is no longer an afterthought. Currently there is an average vacancy rate of 13% of Radiographers in England. Safe staffing of radiography services is paramount to providing effective care for patients and ensuring that any equipment is utilised to its full capacity.
“Our members are being asked to work excessive hours to cover shifts left unfilled due to the vacancies. Many are already working to the limit of the Working Time Regulations. As a result, and significantly for the long-term stability of the NHS workforce, more members are leaving to join agencies or the independent sector. This is completely unsustainable.”
Full letter from SoR to Secretary of State for Health, Steve Barclay
10 October 2023
Dear Mr Barclay
Re: Request for meaningful talks to solve the NHS Radiography Workforce Crisis
As you know, Society of Radiography (SoR) members took another 24 hours of strike action on the 3rd of October.
It remains our hope that further action will not be necessary. Meaningful discussions are now urgently required, resulting in a tangible offer for us to convey to our members. This should include measures to address the radiography retention crisis. The aim of the meeting must be to remove the risk of further action and settle our dispute. We are willing to involve ACAS to facilitate negotiations in a positive manner.
We have listened carefully to the Minister’s input to discussions so far. It is our view that you recognise the radiography workforce crisis as a reality. You clearly understand the central importance of radiographers to any strategy to improve early diagnosis and intervention. This recognition was also reflected in your announcement of more investment in radiography equipment at the Party Conference.
We reiterate that our members need to see evidence that the radiography workforce crisis is no longer an afterthought. Currently there is an average vacancy rate of 13% of Radiographers in England. Safe staffing of radiography services is paramount to providing effective care for patients and ensuring that any equipment is utilised to its full capacity.
When your government accepted the outcome of the Richards Report and committed to the Community Diagnostic Centre programme, our members saw this as a hugely positive step – one that highlighted recognition of radiography’s position as the keystone in a 21st century health care strategy. However, as the programme has rolled out the additional professionals at the core of the strategy have been forgotten and missed out of the implementation plans. This is exacerbating the workforce crisis.
Our members are being asked to work excessive hours to cover shifts left unfilled due to the vacancies. Many are already working to the limit of the Working Time Regulations. As a result, and significantly for the long-term stability of the NHS workforce, more members are leaving to join agencies or the independent sector. This is completely unsustainable.
We have proposals that make political and long-term financial sense. We suggest that these could form the basis of government submission to the Pay Review Body (PRB). The outcomes of pay and benefits uplifts in the coming round are clearly crucial if we are to avoid continuing disputes. Positive action as we suggest makes not only logistical sense but also offers a positive legacy to your Ministerial term. They are measures that would aid other professions with similar crises and help stabilise the NHS.
Our ideas include:
• Commitment to a long-term Pay Restoration programme, underpinned by guaranteed index linked pay increases for NHS professionals from 2024.
• Improved starting pay from 2024. This will help retain more new professionals and encourage improved uptake of training places to sustain the long-term workforce plan. NHS new professionals cannot remain amongst the lowest paid new graduates in the public sector.
• Investing so that career progression and promotion is always rewarded, and no-one loses money to train for professional advancement.
• Support emergency recruitment and retention payments for radiographers and other NHS professionals where the current retention crisis is putting patients at risk.
We hope that you will take this opportunity and meet again with us for meaningful discussions around these ideas as soon as possible and in good faith we have not announced further dates. We look forward to hearing your response.
Yours Sincerely
Richard Evans, Chief Executive Officer
Society of Radiographers