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HeartUnions Week 2025

SoR rep Zoe Hunt says reps ensure radiographers have a voice

HeartUnions Week honours the work of trade unions and the reps who support them. Zoe Hunt, who became an SoR rep in 2015, around seven years into her radiography career, advocates for radiographers within healthcare. She had always felt passionate about promoting radiography, but was inspired to train as a rep after learning more about the policies at the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust where she works.

“I found that a lot of our trust policies were very nurse and doctor related, and so they weren’t necessarily suitable to be used in the radiography departments because it’s a completely unique area,” she explained. “I wanted to make sure I was in a position to advocate for the changes that were needed so the staff could get the best they can from their profession and their jobs.

“I wanted to ensure that, as a team, we had a voice within our department.”

Introducing industry relations rep Christopher Rigby

Christopher Rigby is an industrial relations rep, as well as a Diagnostic Radiographer at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust in West Yorkshire.

His work as a radiographer is based primarily in X-ray and CT, but as a union rep Christopher liaises with staff and management, represents staff members in HR meetings and participates in the NHS staffside management partnership groups.

“Awareness of our profession helps our profession,” he said. “We aren’t just in silos, we’re a smaller cog in the big wheel. I don’t think we always realise that. There’s a role for everyone, however big or small they want it to be. It’s a very welcoming union.

“You can find out what’s going on in the wider picture, in different regions of the country as well. You often find that we have the same issues everywhere. I strongly recommend everyone become active in their regional reps meetings. You’ll learn so much; you’ll make great friends. It’s an honour and a real privilege.”

Meet SoR rep Claudia Hemissi-Liu

Claudia Hemissi-Liu’s passion for equality and fairness in the workplace began long before she became a radiographer. But it was this career that has allowed her to express that passion as an SoR rep for the last six years.

“When I started as a radiographer, I saw a lot of things that I felt weren’t in place,” she explains. “People were scared or reluctant to speak up and ask questions.

“Even though they knew that there should be a discussion about changes, they just wouldn’t make changes. I felt like they needed a voice to represent colleagues, so I volunteered myself to do it.”

Claudia works for the Manchester Foundation Trust, which has joined up with other trusts over the years to make one larger trust. This meant that lots of changes have emerged – some of which are out of the hands of reps like her. “Mainly [the changes] stem from services that are higher up strategically, meaning that it would affect the services that imaging provides.”

But as a rep, there is a lot she can do to help, such as aiding with organisational change and consultation procedures.

HeartUnions Week took place from 10 to 16 February, with unions across England and Wales using the campaign to raise their profile. This campaign provides an opportunity for SoR members to showcase the unique benefits that the society offers – benefits that have been designed to serve the specific needs of the radiography workforce.

To learn about the different types of SoR rep roles and how to become a rep, click here.

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