Envisioning the future of MRI

Alexandra Lipton, professional officer for senior service managers and cross sectional imaging lead at the SoR, presented on the future radiographic workforce. 

Attendees gained valuable insight into the College of Radiographers Education and Careers Framework to demonstrate the career pathway for the imaging workforce from support worker through to consultant radiographer and senior leadership roles. 

The session included a closer look at supervision, delegation, and consent in the context of professional responsibilities, with a focus on MRI and the roles of both radiographers and assistant practitioners, and some of the requirements of the new Health and Care Professions Council Standards of Proficiency.

Workforce strategy update

Richard Griffin, professor of healthcare management at Kings’ Business School, presented next on how the radiography profession has been a leader in the development of supportive and assistive roles, although acknowledging that the full potential of this workforce is not being fully utilised. 

There was a specific mention of assistant practitioners being underused, even in situations where the rest of the team is highly occupied. This highlights a gap in effectively leveraging the support workforce to increase capacity and improve overall efficiency within healthcare imaging.  

Real-world insights

Elaine Beecham, superintendent MRI Radiographer and Carly Fisher, assistant practitioner from Royal Derby Hospital, shared the MRI experience, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and triumphs in implementing the assistant practitioner role in MRI.  

This was followed by a well-deserved coffee break that allowed attendees and speakers to network and reflect. 

Fireside Chat: Delegation and Supervision  

The mid-morning session took a conversational turn, featuring a fireside chat with Elaine, Carly, Alexandra, and Yvonne Thackray, NCL Imaging Academy manager. 

Moderated by Richard, the discussion explored some of the aspects of delegation and supervision in the radiographic domain focussing on the development of the scope of practice of the assistant practitioner.

Carly, the only AP in the building, fielded challenging questions on her role eloquently and inspired the audience with her confidence and professionalism.

Workshop Wisdom: unpacking assistant practitioner roles  

The heart of the day lay in the workshop component. 

Participants broke into groups, each assigned a specific topic; support worker competencies and role development; the case for change - making your pitch; MRI safety with a new skill mix; and developing your MRI dream team.

The discussions dived deep into the scope of practice, local training needs, and the potential impact on radiographers' roles, including opportunities for enhanced and advanced practice. 

It was a collaborative effort to envision the future and bridge the gap between theory and practice.  

In conclusion: a vision unveiled

In the final summing up, Rebecca summarised the key takeaways, emphasising the importance of such collaborative efforts in shaping the future of the MRI workforce. 

This was a successful conclusion to a day filled with energy, enthusiasm, collaboration, and a shared vision for the future of the assistant practitioners into the MRI workforce. 

NCL Imaging Academy's study day whetted the appetite for a new skill mix, shaping the future of the MRI workforce and this was confirmed with a feedback rating of 4.8 out of 5.