‘I chose radiography because I fell down the stairs’: Q&A with Rose Hazell-Evans
Radiographer Rose Hazell-Evans recently became the UK’s second ever nuclear medicine consultant. Synergy finds out how a tumble as a teenager led her to this enormous achievement
Can you give us some background on your radiography experience?
I qualified in 2015 after studying diagnostic radiography at the University of Suffolk. Post qualification I started work at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in a split role job as a general and nuclear medicine radiographer. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work in a split role. I think the resilience and skills gained from working on-call and lone working at night covering both CT and X-ray (not something that is carried out at the trust now - far too many CTs!) still help me today.
During this time, I continued my education and in 2015 I also began my MSc in Nuclear Medicine at King’s College London. I studied on this course alongside medics and thus I felt initially somewhat out of my depth! I feel very lucky to have joined such a lovely cohort and it gave me experience very early on in my career of being treated as an equal by my medical colleagues. I completed the MSc in 2018 after carrying out the research for my thesis at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London.
Professionally I also began to progress: in July 2017 I became a senior radiographer and December 2021 the nuclear medicine service manager for the trust.
I have loved this role, the complexities and constant surprises of managing a nuclear medicine service make every day interesting - from global shortages of molybdenum (the parent isotope of Technetium-99m, which is used in the majority of nuclear medicine scans) to dealing with radioactive spills.
At a staff meeting in 2020 the possibility of nuclear medicine radiographer reporting was raised which received full support from the consultant radiologist nuclear medicine lead.
Since 2020, I have received regular training from my consultant radiologist mentor Dr James Barrett. I am lucky to have benefitted from his 20 years of experience as a consultant. I would not have been able to achieve this position without his support and am very privileged to work with someone so engaged with teaching. Alongside this I undertook formal nuclear medicine reporting skills training from the University of the West of England and in 2023 I graduated with a PGDip in Advanced Practice.
I report a wide range of nuclear medicine studies including: DMSAs, MAG3s, thyroid, lacrimals, bone scans, parathyroid scans and gastric emptying studies. I enjoy that my practice deals with multiple organ systems and all types of disease, as it results in a varied and fascinating job.
Over the years, this role has developed as I’ve gained confidence from my consultant radiologist colleagues, taking on more of the employer’s responsibility for regulatory compliance and more department responsibility such as the management of the budget. I have recently been appointed as a consultant radiographer in nuclear medicine in recognition for the responsibility I hold but also the expert support I provide to my colleagues and the service.
I am currently undertaking a PGCert in Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care to continue my development.
Can you give us some background on your radiography experience?
I qualified in 2015 after studying diagnostic radiography at the University of Suffolk. Post qualification I started work at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in a split role job as a general and nuclear medicine radiographer. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work in a split role. I think the resilience and skills gained from working on-call and lone working at night covering both CT and X-ray (not something that is carried out at the trust now- far too many CTs!) still help me today.
During this time, I continued my education and in 2015 I also began my MSc in Nuclear Medicine at King’s College London. I studied on this course alongside medics and thus I felt initially somewhat out of my depth! I feel very lucky to have joined such a lovely cohort and it gave me experience very early on in my career of being treated as an equal by my medical colleagues. I completed the MSc in 2018 after carrying out the research for my thesis at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London.
Professionally I also began to progress: in July 2017 I became a senior radiographer and December 2021 the nuclear medicine service manager for the trust.
I have loved this role, the complexities and constant surprises of managing a nuclear medicine service make every day interesting - from global shortages of molybdenum (the parent isotope of Technetium-99m, which is used in the majority of nuclear medicine scans) to dealing with radioactive spills.
At a staff meeting in 2020 the possibility of nuclear medicine radiographer reporting was raised which received full support from the consultant radiologist nuclear medicine lead.
Since 2020, I have received regular training from my consultant radiologist mentor Dr James Barrett. I am lucky to have benefitted from his 20 years of experience as a consultant. I would not have been able to achieve this position without his support and am very privileged to work with someone so engaged with teaching. Alongside this I undertook formal nuclear medicine reporting skills training from the University of the West of England and in 2023 I graduated with a PGDip in Advanced Practice.
I report a wide range of nuclear medicine studies including: DMSAs, MAG3s, thyroid, lacrimals, bone scans, parathyroid scans and gastric emptying studies. I enjoy that my practice deals with multiple organ systems and all types of disease, as it results in a varied and fascinating job.
Over the years, this role has developed as I’ve gained confidence from my consultant radiologist colleagues, taking on more of the employer’s responsibility for regulatory compliance and more department responsibility such as the management of the budget. I have recently been appointed as a consultant radiographer in nuclear medicine in recognition for the responsibility I hold but also the expert support I provide to my colleagues and the service.
I am currently undertaking a PGCert in Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care to continue my development.
Rose’s colleagues congratulating her on her achievement
Rose’s colleagues congratulating her on her achievement
What made you want to become a radiographer?
I wish I had a better reason but in truth I fell down some concrete stairs as a teenager. This resulted in a head and facial injury, causing memory loss of the incident and surrounding day. The only clear thing I remember was how incredibly kind the radiographer was (and how impressive it was that she took my bra off without causing me any pain!). Having worked many night shifts in ED since, I am very aware of how unfair this memory is on my nurse and doctor colleagues who likely provided care that I have no recollection of. However, I have found radiography to be a profession filled with lovely people, which makes me feel better!
It was the only course I applied for when finishing my A-levels and I haven’t looked back since.
What, for you, are the best parts of being a radiographer?
The variety, the patients and I really love seeing how things work. Which is probably why I work in nuclear medicine, functional imaging.
In general, I think it’s fascinating all the avenues and areas you can specialise in as a radiographer. At my trust my manager Kelly Fuller has set up a group of reporting radiographers and I am continuously amazed by the practice of my colleagues in different fields. The evolution of this profession is definitely very exciting.
Rose’s colleagues congratulating her on her achievement
Rose’s colleagues congratulating her on her achievement
What made you want to become a radiographer?
I wish I had a better reason but in truth I fell down some concrete stairs as a teenager. This resulted in a head and facial injury, causing memory loss of the incident and surrounding day. The only clear thing I remember was how incredibly kind the radiographer was (and how impressive it was that she took my bra off without causing me any pain!). Having worked many night shifts in ED since, I am very aware of how unfair this memory is on my nurse and doctor colleagues who likely provided care that I have no recollection of. However, I have found radiography to be a profession filled with lovely people which makes me feel better!
It was the only course I applied for when finishing my A-levels and I haven’t looked back since.
What, for you, are the best parts of being a radiographer?
The variety, the patients and I really love seeing how things work. Which is probably why I work in nuclear medicine, functional imaging.
In general, I think it’s fascinating all the avenues and areas you can specialise in as a radiographer. At my trust my manager Kelly Fuller has set up a group of reporting radiographers and I am continuously amazed by the practice of my colleagues in different fields. The evolution of this profession is definitely very exciting.
What advice would you give to any students starting out on their radiography journey?
Don’t be as shy as I was! It took me a good few years at the beginning to have the confidence to ask questions - absolutely no one thinks it’s a bad question, just ask it. In general people just want to help. There is no rush to specialise early on: being a general radiographer is an art in itself and there are so many routes now available to you if you wish.
Though given my obvious bias I would say that as radiography students we don’t have much time in nuclear medicine and are often concentrating on completing a set of competencies in a limited period. Maybe have a look, without the pressure of competencies, to see if it’s an area that may be of interest.
How does it feel to be the UK's second ever nuclear medicine consultant?
Fairly surreal! I would like to say something self-deprecating here, but I’ve very recently had a conversation with one of our female consultant radiologists about the importance of women owning their achievements.
It is a proud achievement. I am very fortunate to have had the support from my trust, manager and colleagues to reach it.
Rose recently became the UK’s second ever nuclear medicine consultant
Rose recently became the UK’s second ever nuclear medicine consultant
Rose recently became the UK’s second ever nuclear medicine consultant
Rose recently became the UK’s second ever nuclear medicine consultant
What advice would you give to any students starting out on their radiography journey?
Don’t be as shy as I was! It took me a good few years at the beginning to have the confidence to ask questions - absolutely no one thinks it’s a bad question, just ask it. In general people just want to help. There is no rush to specialise early on: being a general radiographer is an art in itself and there are so many routes now available to you if you wish.
Though given my obvious bias I would say that as radiography students we don’t have much time in nuclear medicine and are often concentrating on completing a set of competencies in a limited period. Maybe have a look, without the pressure of competencies, to see if it’s an area that may be of interest.
How does it feel to be the UK's second ever nuclear medicine consultant?
Fairly surreal! I would like to say something self-deprecating here, but I’ve very recently had a conversation with one of our female consultant radiologists about the importance of women owning their achievements.
It is a proud achievement. I am very fortunate to have had the support from my trust, manager and colleagues to reach it.
What would you say to anyone considering specialising in nuclear medicine?
Nuclear medicine is definitely a great choice! Nuclear medicine is a fascinating modality to work in. We get to administer radioactive materials, see how the different systems of the body work and navigate complex equipment. Every day is different. I also love that, due to the nature of the scans we carry out, we get to spend more time with patients and have the opportunity to build up a rapport
Do you have any hobbies or interests that help you wind down outside work?
My husband and family will definitely call me out if I lie and pretend to be interesting. I do not have any hobbies. I love my Cavapoo very much and I like holidays. Apologies that’s probably not the answer you’d like - especially from a work-life balance perspective!
What would you say to anyone considering specialising in nuclear medicine?
Nuclear medicine is definitely a great choice! Nuclear medicine is a fascinating modality to work in. We get to administer radioactive materials, see how the different systems of the body work and navigate complex equipment. Every day is different. I also love that, due to the nature of the scans we carry out, we get to spend more time with patients and have the opportunity to build up a rapport
Do you have any hobbies or interests that help you wind down outside work?
My husband and family will definitely call me out if I lie and pretend to be interesting. I do not have any hobbies. I love my Cavapoo very much and I like holidays. Apologies that’s probably not the answer you’d like - especially from a work-life balance perspective!
More about Rose Hazell-Evans
Rose is the UK's second consultant radiographer in nuclear medicine. She graduated from the University of Suffolk in 2015 and began working at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. She studied for a MSc in Nuclear Medicine at King's College London (2015-2018), a PGDip in Advanced Practice at the University of the West of England (2021-2023) and is currently undertaking a PGCert in Leadership and Management in Health and Social Care.
She has recently been accepted to study on a MPhil in Medical Science (Radiology) at the University of Cambridge which is due to start in the autumn.
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