Society of Radiographers highlights ‘urgent need’ for new equipment in Scotland

SoR executive director for professional policy Charlotte Beardmore

SoR executive director for professional policy Charlotte Beardmore

Figures obtained through freedom of information (FOI) requests by Scottish Labour have revealed the age of diagnostic equipment in Scotland.

The widely accepted benchmark age at which equipment should be replaced is 10 years, but information obtained by the SoR from the Scottish Radiology Transformation Programme (2023) identified that, of the 329 X-ray machines, CT and MRI scanners, 106 are more than a decade old.

Recent information obtained via the FOI requests demonstrates that that figure now stands at 123 diagnostic machines that are more than 10 years old in Scotland.

Now the society is calling for a national programme to upgrade and maintain Scotland’s diagnostic scanning equipment.

Charlotte Beardmore, SoR executive director for professional policy, said: “Our members in Scotland frequently express the urgent need for new equipment.

“More modern equipment also provides enhanced images and is installed with AI and assistive technology, which reduces imaging time and delivers a better experience and outcomes for all patients.”

Why a new street in Glasgow has been named Radiography Road

Radiography Road in Glasgow

Radiography Road in Glasgow

A road on a new housing estate in Glasgow has been named Radiography Road in honour of a hospital that was formerly located there.

The Ashlar Village development is located on the site of the former Ruchill Hospital, which closed in 1998, in the Ruchill area of Glasgow.

Radiography Road is just one street on the 400-home development, which will also feature other healthcare-themed streets including Vaccine Drive, Virology Grove and Laboratory Place, the BBC reports.

Some of the unique names were thought up by Glasgow member of Scottish parliament Paul Sweeney. Mr Sweeney originally wanted to name the streets after key figures at the Ruchill Hospital, but was advised to avoid choosing names of people, and so he landed on acknowledging work that took place at the hospital.

Speaking on BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine show, Mr Sweeney said: “I head-scratched and thought ‘let’s make it more particular to the function of the hospital’ – obviously it’s tricky to name something Tuberculosis Terrace so I tried to keep them appropriately named.”

Insight summer 2025 edition: submissions now open

Submissions are now open for the summer edition of Insight, the SoR’s official continuing professional development publication.

With almost 30,000 readers per quarter, Insight provides an ideal platform for authors to share research, experiences and new perspectives with members from across the radiography spectrum.

Interested authors can submit their contributions before 14 April to be featured in the summer 2025 edition of the publication.

Insight is open to submissions from authors with any level of writing experience.

The publication seeks to share research, knowledge and timely evidence of best clinical practice while providing readers with opportunities for CPD relevant to the world of diagnostic and therapeutic radiography.

It emphasises practical applications of new ideas to inspire clinical practice, as well as encouraging role development and highlighting advanced practice.

Contributions could include research articles, systematic and narrative literature reviews, case studies, posters and communications pieces to report new developments within the profession.

Society of Radiographers of South Africa team up with IAFR for joint conference

Conference convenor, founding chair of the IAFR and radiographer, Dr Mark Viner

Conference convenor, founding chair of the IAFR and radiographer, Dr Mark Viner

The Society of Radiographers of South Africa (SORSA) and the International Association of Forensic Radiographers (IAFR) are set to mark the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the IAFR in Cape Town this year.

Members of the SoR are being encouraged to attend the SORSA-IAFR 2025 Congress, either in person or online on 5-7 September 2025 at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.

This international joint initiative, which provides both in-person and virtual attendance opportunities, hopes to cater to all disciplines of radiography, with a focus on technological advances and special sessions on forensic radiography.

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the official launch of the IAFR at a Society of Radiographers reception at UKRC in Birmingham in 2005.

SoR members encouraged to apply for new ASRT Foundation research grant

The American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) Foundation is offering a research grant to fund a project undertaken by a US researcher and an international researcher. SoR members are being encouraged to apply.

Funded by the ASRT Foundation, which supports grants for imaging and radiation therapy professionals, this grant is an International Collaborative Research Grant.

As part of the grant, the ASRT Foundation will match a US-based researcher with an international researcher and fund a research project lasting a maximum of two years. Up to $50,000 worth of funding will be available for successful proposals.

SoR researchers are encouraged to submit their proposal ideally together with a US collaborator, but applications are welcomed from those without a US research partner. For those without a collaborator in the US, the ASRT will aim to match you and link you with a US collaborator if successful.

To find out more about the International Collaborative Research Grant, click here.

Image credits:

Eva Slusarek
Google Maps Street View
SORSA
Natalia Gdovskaia via Getty Images