As we begin the second half of this decade, I get the pleasure of reflecting on the past year and project forward on the key strategic objectives. Hopefully this article will highlight some of the great work the Society and College of Radiographers is doing on behalf of and with its membership and what 2025 has in store. 

As I sit here writing this new year article, I debated allowing it to all go to my head and provide a long (yet unofficial) new year’s honours list of radiographers and highlight some of the great work from around the UK. Instead, a condensed review of notable people who have influenced my past year felt right. 

I am pleased to have visited great clinical departments such as the Western Isles Hospital in the Hebrides and Altnagelvin Hospital cancer centre in Northern Ireland, which are both full of welcoming and engaged radiographers. I have also had the pleasure of meeting regional SoR committees and members such as those from the Welsh Council and the Yorkshire and North Trent regions, which have all been enlightening and inspirational. There have also been individuals who have stood out for me this year, such as Amy Hancock, Kerry Mills, Danny Hutton, the Rad Chat podcast team, the Student Radiographer Podcast team, radiographers at my place of work, such as Sara Lycett, Emma Jackson and Amy Brooks, and those internal to the SoR, such as Laura Charlesworth, Leandre Archer, Gill Harrison and Tracy O’Regan. Not only have they all supported me, they epitomise the culture and ethos I believe we should all embody.

We often find ourselves reflecting on a ‘difficult’ or ‘turbulent’ 12 months past, each year seemingly trumping the last and leaving healthcare workers further bereft. In reality – and I’m not sure if this is just my opinion – 2024 seemed to offer a glimmer of hope. Although the year was difficult in many ways, a change of government sees a refreshed attitude towards the nation’s healthcare services. Regardless of political orientation, a change of governing party can often give an opportunity to evolve. With a drive to deliver on manifestos against a backdrop of widespread industrial action, surging patient waiting lists and crumbling hospitals, the change to a Labour government in Westminster represented a collective breath hold for all the SoR membership and beyond. As someone who has faced austerity and pay freezes during my career, this was a relatively novel situation to find myself in. Pay offers for 2024 were swiftly announced and tensions were temporarily settled. While it may be too early to truly understand a meaningful pay commitment, it is difficult not to find a level of anticipation and tingles of optimism. 2025 and the following years must see a commitment to pay restoration across the UK to effectively change the narrative and to value the hardworking healthcare workforce.

Professionally, I am proud of the journey we all find ourselves on and how far we have come in the radiography workforce. I have had the pleasure in my presidential year to greatly improve my understanding of the national picture by visiting both therapeutic and diagnostic departments to absorb the amazing work going on daily around the UK. On top of this, and attending on your behalf, I have gained an improved personal insight into industry and the key stakeholders that form important cogs in the healthcare structure. The AXREM strategy launch in Westminster, welcoming Dr Nick Screaton as the incoming British Institute of Radiology president, and attending conferences such as BMUS24 and RSNA, are all highlights in my presidential year to date. As a membership body predominantly providing the professional and workforce voice in the UK, one of my key objectives for my presidential year revolved around our stance and ability on the national and international stage. Working closely with stakeholders of all levels, we as a workforce benefit greatly. One example of this is within our CoR Industry Partnership Scheme (CoRIPS). Understanding what is on the horizon within imaging and treatment of patients is fundamental to preparing for the future. Sitting down with industry partners Philips, Guerbet and Fujifilm provides an opportunity to positively impact the healthcare landscape. With hundreds of thousands of pounds already given out in fellowships and grants, these partnerships have created a springboard for change.

In July, I had the honour of being inaugurated as the 87th president of the Society and College of Radiographers – a feat I never had on my bingo card growing up! A high point in my career, I immediately set about enacting my year-long goals. Aligning my presidential objectives to our strategy, I was clear in what I feel could be classed as a ‘successful’ year. By applying my actions to these four key objectives, I have been able to ensure a focused year on the topics I feel are some of the most important.

'An amazing amount of work is being done daily to keep the wheels of improvement going'

A local voice – a voice for all, however big, however small

As a membership group, we have a formidable power. With the majority of radiographers in the UK making up the SoR, and being the principal voice for the profession, our voice is amplified. This doesn’t mean donning berets and beating drums, but understanding how as a collective we can build a better world around us and for the future. An amazing amount of work is being done daily to keep the wheels of improvement going, from Quality Standards for Imaging to accreditation, to union matters and beyond our shores, we have achieved a lot in and before 2024. With the rise in membership and our position on the national stage evolving, so must our structures.

Each and every member makes the SoR possible. Each and every member is the SoR. It is for this reason that ensuring communication structures in all directions are reviewed. I have been working hard in the first half of my year to understand where we currently stand, as well as highlighting good practice and areas in need of improvement so we can move forward to developing a voice for all. 

Push up, push out – build an increased awareness of the radiography profession

Belief – it is as simple as that. For all those working in the profession of radiography, whether that’s taking X-rays, navigating a LINACs maze, education, management and beyond, we know how great we are, right? For years, I have been banging the drum, pointing out to the world how important we are to the healthcare system. In recent years (and somewhat propelled forwards because of Covid), we have found our profession gathering a new level of traction. With CDCs in England, cancer services at the forefront of manifestos and AI taking a prominent stage, we find our professions in a stronger position. Capitalising on this and supporting the work is both exciting and important within the future of our workforce.

Being your spokesperson within the SoR, I have been privileged to attend the Houses of Commons, meet health secretary Wes Streeting and other MPs, conduct radio interviews on World Radiography Day, attend career fairs for college students and more. Basically, anyone with a spare 10 minutes has been subject to my ramblings about radiography and just how great radiographers are!

Efficiencies and governance of the SoR | CoR

Becoming president isn’t just a ceremonial role. I work alongside the UK Council on behalf of the SoR membership to ensure the function and accountancy of the business are done correctly. Working closely with the executive team has allowed me to understand governance procedures and policy and enact a membership voice at the top.

'It is always possible to have a positive influence'

A safer working environment, a safer world

 As a trade union industrial relations representative, I came into this role with a passion for safety and improvement. Ethically and morally we have a responsibility to enact change. This is for both the membership and our patients. As president, it is clear to me that, however much we do, we could do more and I call on all members to be the catalyst for improvement. You may feel it is not possible, or too difficult, but I promise you, if done correctly, it is always possible to have a positive influence.

The escalating global unrest sits heavy in my thoughts constantly and often leaves me wishing I could do more. I continue to advocate for peace, wherever in the world this may be, and reflecting on all life that has been lost as a result of conflict this past year is important to me and the SoR.

Since coming to my tenure as president, I am proud to be an ambassador for the White Ribbon Campaign, working on the important topic of safety for women and girls. For the SoR, this takes a few forms: ensuring we are all cognisant of the safety of female colleagues in the workplace, while also being aware of our role in patient safeguarding and support structures for the public.

So what does 2025 entail? With 30,000-plus members, we have the ability to work towards great things. My only tip for success is don’t go looking for big bang changes because, in reality, these are rare. Instead, one person leads to a small team of people, which leads to a department of people, which can lead to a region of people, which can lead to a nation of people all working towards a greater goal. Give the right time frame, collaborate and build a culture around positive attitudes. In recent years I confess my positivity has dipped, but my new year’s resolution is to find this spark of optimism again as I truly believe we have what it takes to achieve whatever we wish.

Happy new year!

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