SoR council ballot winners for Yorkshire and North Trent and Scotland announced

(Yvonne Davies (left) and Sarah Burn)

SoR's UK Council ballot elections held last year have been counted and the winners decided for seats in the Yorkshire and North Trent region and Scotland.

Yvonne Davies, a Diagnostic Radiographer at Glasgow Royal Infirmary since 2006, has emerged as the winner in Scotland, winning the vote by 207 to 64.

Meanwhile Sarah Burn, who has been a Diagnostic Radiographer in both the Yorkshire and North Trent (YKNT) region and in the Northern region since qualifying in 2003, was elected from among four candidates to the position of Council member.

Passion, advocacy, and the future of the profession

Yvonne has worked part-time for most of her career while raising three children, now almost all teenagers. She explained that like many radiographers balancing work and home life, she often focused solely on the job at hand, delivering high-quality patient care.

However, in January 2023, she began a postgraduate module at Glasgow Caledonian University, reconnected with the work of the SoR, and learned more about the Annual Delegates’ Conference.

She said: “Attending the conference was a revelation. It opened my eyes to the passion, the advocacy, and the opportunities to influence the future of radiography. Inspired, I applied to become an observer to the UK Council. I was nervous speaking in front of over 200 people about why I should be elected; this was no small feat and out of my comfort zone, but I spoke from the heart and was chosen.

“The reasons I felt I would make a good observer are the same ones that now motivate me to stand as a candidate for UK Council. I bring over twenty years of hands-on NHS experience, working as a Band 6 radiographer across CT, A&E, interventional radiology, cardiology, orthopaedics, theatres, and general imaging over my career. This broad perspective allows me to represent the day-to-day realities of the majority of SoR members in Scotland because I am one of them.”

Recognition and respect

Yvonne says she intends to ensure clear, two-way communication between members and the SoR and that everyone from students to senior leaders will feel heard, valued and supported. 

She also expressed passion for advocating for staffing levels, manageable workloads, and policies that prioritise both patient and staff wellbeing. 

Yvonne added: “Radiographers often work behind the scenes, but we play a central role in diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes. I will work to raise the profile of our profession within the NHS, with policymakers, and with the public to ensure we receive the recognition and respect we deserve.

“We are stronger when we work together and our profession will thrive when it is led by strategy and governed with integrity. I’m ready to listen, represent, and act on your behalf.”

Access the breakdown of votes for the election online here.

Experience and responsibility

Sarah Burn is also a mum to three teenagers, and has been involved with the SoR since a few months post-qualification as a radiographer.

With a solid foundation in X-ray modalities and later interests in CT and advanced practice in fluoroscopy, Sarah has taken a “sidestep” into managerial positions and currently serves as principal radiographer at York Hospital, where she is responsible for multiple diagnostic modalities, reporting, and advanced practice.

Sarah’s experience with the SoR began just a couple of months into qualifying, as a health and safety rep, before moving into the role of industrial relations rep once Agenda for Change was implemented.

Over the years, her involvement grew into sitting on regional executive committees, on call working groups, Delegate Conference Committee for the Annual Delegates’ Conference, and latterly as UK Council member for the Northern Region from 2019-2024, a position she had to step down from as she joined the Yorkshire & North Trent region when she began her role in York.

Striving for excellence

She said: “Having contributed to setting the strategic direction of the SoR previously, I firmly believe that the organisation and our radiographic community across the UK are pushing the profession I love forwards.

“I strive for excellence in myself and my staff and colleagues, advocating for our profession and shaping the future for all members of our profession from support workers, apprentices and students through to our consultant practitioners.”

Find out more information about UK Council elections online here.