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SoR praises 2 million extra yearly NHS appointments
The SoR has welcomed news that more than two million extra NHS appointments have been delivered ahead of schedule.
The milestone was announced by the Department of Health and Social Care earlier this month. Delivering two million additional NHS appointments each year before September 2025 was one of the election manifesto points promised by the Labour Party.
However, the SoR has warned that demand for appointments is increasing, and investment must be made in the NHS workforce.
“The Society of Radiographers is delighted to hear that the government’s commitment to improving the NHS is bearing fruit,” said Richard Evans, CEO of the SoR.
“It’s a shame, however, that there appears to be no recognition from ministers that these impressive achievements are entirely down to the hard work and dedication of frontline NHS staff, including Diagnostic and Therapeutic Radiographers, who conduct scans and plan and deliver radiotherapy for patients.”
Prime minister marks 2 million appointment pledge with CDC visit
Last month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the North Bristol Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) to mark reaching the two million extra NHS appointments milestone pledged by the Labour Party.
The visit saw Keir meet with radiographers, endoscopists, nurses and reception staff at the centre to talk about the work they carry out.
Since the CDC opened in November 2024, more than 30,000 people have visited the centre for diagnostic tests, meaning that people can start treatment sooner. Around 50,000 NHS patients are expected to be seen in the next year.
The CDC has reduced the number of patients waiting longer than six weeks for diagnostic tests to below the national standard of 5 per cent or lower.
The centre is open 12 hours per day, seven days a week.
SoR warns Pay Review Body against overreach
Dean Rogers, executive director for industrial strategy
Dean Rogers, executive director for industrial strategy
The SoR has joined other healthcare unions in cautioning the NHS Pay Review Body (PRB) against addressing areas of pay reform it is not qualified to work on.
In February – subsequent to written evidence in November and December – the SoR was questioned about its view on the PRB’s scope to address agenda for change (AfC) structure reforms.
On 11 November, SoR executive director for industrial strategy Dean Rogers shared how deeply concerned the SoR was over the PRB’s expanded remit to repair and alter AfC pay structures.
“All unions and I think most NHS employers are gravely concerned about the PRB being asked to do a job they are neither well prepared for nor qualified to do,” said Dean. “The PRB is at best qualified to survey pay structures. It is not qualified to renovate or redesign a pay structure, never mind one as complicated as AfC.”
Scotland first minister visits NHS Orkney radiology department
(Left to right) Kate Smith, CT lead; Laura Skaife-Knight, chief executive; John Swinney, first minister; Meghan McEwen, board chair; Nick Crohn, radiology services manager
(Left to right) Kate Smith, CT lead; Laura Skaife-Knight, chief executive; John Swinney, first minister; Meghan McEwen, board chair; Nick Crohn, radiology services manager
John Swinney, Scottish first minister, visited NHS Orkney in February to speak to staff and learn about the health board’s journey of improvement.
Board chair Meghan McEwen and chief executive Laura Skaife-Knight gave him a tour of the hospital, during which he stopped to remark on the innovations of the health board’s radiology service. The hospital is the country’s first to be built to a net-zero standard.
The innovations in question are mostly based on delivering new technologies. The team has collaborated with the cardiac consultant to deliver CT cardiac angiography on the island, deliver elastography scans as part of routine liver ultrasound scans, move orthopaedic joint injection lists to radiology to save theatre time and acquire a relocatable MRI scanner on the island.
This is for a 12-month test of change for viability.
Nominations open for SoR UK Council seats
The Society of Radiographers (SoR) is inviting members from Scotland, the South East and Eastern regions to apply for a seat on its UK Council.
SoR members interested in joining the UK Council should complete the online application form by 5pm on 17 March.
Being part of the UK Council gives radiographers the chance to represent the interests of their region at the highest level of a recognised professional body and trade union for the radiography workforce.
Those elected to the UK Council will become company directors of the SoR and subsequently play a key role in governance and influencing the organisation’s strategic direction.
Candidates will serve a three-year term, with the option to stand for up to two more terms. If more than one eligible nomination is received for a region, a ballot will take place in April.
SoR compiles case studies for the Education and Career Framework
As part of its ongoing work with NHS England, the SoR has gathered 24 case studies into a new online hub. The hub allows members to access both the Education and Career Framework (ECF) and the case study library.
In the next few weeks, SoR News will be publishing stories on some of the career pathway case studies featured in the ECF.
Kathryn Williamson, SoR professional officer for education and accreditation, spearheaded the project. “It was always the College of Radiographers’ intention to grow the case study offering within the ECF, both providing recognition of the great work being carried out by our members, and inspiring and encouraging others,” she said.
“This is particularly true for educational roles within radiography as we have a growing need to recruit and encourage radiographers into this area of practice.”
You can view the new ECF case study hub here.
Image credits:
Leon Neal/Getty Images
Simon Dawson/No 10 Downing Street/ Getty
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