Preventable diseases impact people’s lives and place considerable strain on healthcare systems, increasing demand on both primary and secondary care services. A key tenet of public health and health promotion is the principle that prevention is preferable to cure, while early intervention, when issues first emerge, is equally critical. This is why public health should be an integral component of every radiographer's practice, both diagnostic and therapeutic radiography.

Health inequalities persist across society, with social determinants such as socioeconomic status, housing and education contributing to significant disparities in health outcomes (The Health Foundation, 2018). The life expectancy of individuals born into deprived areas is often markedly lower than those in more affluent neighbourhoods (Marmot, 2020). 

Prevention, health protection and promoting resilience all align with the holistic models of care of all radiographers. Diagnostic Radiographers are often one of the first healthcare practitioners people meet in their health investigations and can be an effective practitioner to utilise this, often short, one-to-one interaction with patients. Therapeutic Radiographers often have the chance to build a patient rapport over a longer time because of additional appointments and longer treatment times. As radiographers, we are in that unique position and have the skills to address the wider determinants of health, even if this is just by signposting our patients. Informing ourselves of the services and provisions easily and readily available is key.  

All AHPs play a pivotal role in mitigating the factors that contribute to health inequalities and have the opportunity to promote public health.

Embedding Public Health into Clinical Services and Making Every Contact Count 

A crucial first step in embedding a preventative approach is understanding the public health issues most relevant to your area of practice. NHS England’s elearning programme, Embedding Public Health into Clinical Services, was designed following a series of consultations with AHPs leaders. They identified what they felt was required to aid them in recognising their team’s contribution to public health. This resource provides a simple five-step guide to help healthcare teams identify how they may already be engaging in preventative practices and uncover additional opportunities to expand their impact.

One of the key initiatives particularly pertinent to radiographers is Making Every Contact Count (MECC). This online resource is readily available to support people to develop the knowledge and understanding to make every contact count by asking others about their health and wellbeing. An MECC interaction takes a matter of minutes (maybe even just one minute) and is structured to fit into and complement existing engagement approaches.

Royal Society of Public Health AHP Hub

The allied health professions hub has a wealth of resources to support all AHPs in public health (RSPH, 2023). However, as radiographers, particularly Diagnostic Radiographers, we are currently underrepresented in public health leadership and innovation despite our wide-ranging patient base and patient-facing frontline position there is currently a need for more radiographer-focused case studies on the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) AHP Hub (Society of Radiographers, 2024).

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC, 2023) has introduced new standards that highlight the critical role of public health in both the therapeutic and diagnostic radiography profession. For further information on resources related to public health and to explore prior radiographer contributions to the wider public health workforce, or if you are interested in sharing a case study, abstract or publication, visit the RSPH Hub. 

The article has emphasised the importance of integrating public health into a radiographer’s practice to address preventable diseases and health inequalities. The resources described aim to inform and equip all AHPs with the knowledge and strategies to enhance health outcomes and reduce disparities through early intervention and preventative care. As healthcare practitioners exposed to all types of patients on a daily basis, radiographers are in a unique position and have a responsibility to provide the initial signpost or ‘seed for change’ in their patients for positive impact on how public health and health promotion is integrated into their care, and lifestyle. The need to do more to address and reduce health inequalities is apparent.