Opinion
“Time for radiography support workers to take a stand”
Leandre Archer, SoR Head of Industrial Relations
Leandre Archer, SoR Head of Industrial Relations
The radiography workforce crisis and the need to retain and recruit radiographers to ensure effective services has been at the forefront of recent campaigning by the SoR.
Radiography and radiotherapy department assistants, assistant practitioners and others who work alongside radiographers to support patients and the service are also experiencing significant problems with retention and recruitment. Like radiographers, they are the unsung heroes of imaging and radiotherapy service delivery.
Without these important colleagues, imaging and radiotherapy departments would be unable to function effectively.
It is important that our members working in the NHS in England who are part of the radiography support workforce know that they are also involved in the pay dispute. Their pay has been affected by the recent derisory pay offer and they are also dealing with the rising cost of living, which is harder on lower wages as most are in Bands 2 to 4.
We need to ensure that they are aware they will also be balloted on industrial action on 7 June and will be called to action if the SoR is provided with a strike mandate. Whilst better pay is the main priority in this dispute, it will also raise the profile of both radiographers and the radiography support workforce.
It is evident that the significance of both diagnostic and therapeutic radiography to patient flow through hospitals, decreasing discharge times and waiting lists has not been appreciated by the government. They have allowed years of underfunding and a lack of workforce planning to create a situation where vacancies are increasing, and our members are working excessive hours and burning themselves out to ensure continuity of care and services.
Unfortunately, patients are also feeling the side effects as waiting lists for imaging and radiotherapy continue to increase.
“Without better pay, the profession will not be able to entice people into these roles”
The independent review of diagnostic services by Professor Sir Mike Richards in 2020 recommended an increase of 2,670 in the number of administration and Band 2/3 support roles in imaging services, along with 2,500 additional assistant practitioners.
If the Richards’ Review recommendations are fully implemented there would also need to be a 438% growth in assistant practitioner roles. Without better pay, the profession will not be able to entice people into these roles.
The recent consultation in which over 80% of SoR members working in NHS England said they were prepared to be balloted for strike action gives a strong message that our members, whether they are radiographers or part of the radiography support workforce, are saying "enough is enough".
We are asking all SoR radiography support workforce members working in the NHS in England to take a stand with their radiographer colleagues in the fight for better pay. It is important that they respond to the upcoming formal ballot. Without a strike mandate our voice will not be heard.
Leandre Archer is SoR Head of Industrial Relations
Further information
The SoR has provided the answers to all your questions on the industrial action ballot in England in this FAQS article. Please login to your account on the SoR website to check that all of your contact details are up to date so that you can take part in the ballot.
https://www.sor.org/news/trade-union-ir/england-pay-ballot-faqs
https://www.sor.org
Opinion
“Right to strike?”
SoR CEO Richard Evans on the prospect of industrial action and why the SoR supports the TUC campaign against the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill.
Richard Evans, SoR CEO
Richard Evans, SoR CEO
One of the most common questions asked by SoR members as we prepare to ballot for industrial action is “How will we ensure patients are not harmed?”
Some members need to know that services can be planned safely for emergencies, urgent care and essential treatments before they will consider casting their vote. This tells me two things.
Firstly, that SoR members, in common will all other health professionals, prioritise the needs of their patients over any demands that they might have (however justifiable) for improved pay and conditions at work.
Secondly, it is clear that the SoR reaches the point of balloting for industrial action so rarely that we have little recollection of the arrangements that have been made in the past to ensure our point can be made whilst protecting patients.
Despite the way unions are portrayed in the media and by politicians, strike action is a last resort. It takes a lot for people, especially healthcare professionals, to vote for industrial action and to withdraw our labour. For many it is an agonising choice.
“Professionals cannot be expected to ignore the situation any longer”
But make no mistake, the decision to participate in industrial action for any SoR member is a professional choice.
Underfunding and political neglect of workforce planning by successive governments have caused a crisis in UK healthcare. Service delivery is being affected. Patients are being harmed. Professionals cannot be expected to ignore the situation any longer.
The pay question is of course central in everyone’s minds and it is no less a professional issue.
The NHS is being held together by professionalism and dedication. Allowing real terms pay to decline so markedly over years amounts to abuse of this trust. The Westminster government is at fault and has to be held to account.
Instead of facing up to the crisis they have created, ministers are attempting to introduce legislation intended to limit the ability of SoR members to take strike action. The Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill is designed to silence the voice of professionals and others that care about the services that they provide.
Although the anti-strike bill is being proposed by the current government, expressing opposition to it is a moral rather than a party-political stance.
The ability to withdraw labour legally is enshrined in international law as a human right. It is a right that protects frontline staff and the services they provide. For healthcare employees, there is an additional patient care dimension.
Richard Evans is SoR CEO
Further information
The SoR supports the TUC in its campaign against the introduction of the bill. You can read more here: www.tuc.org.uk/ProtectRightToStrike
Thank you for your continuing support of the SoR.
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