Updated Standards of Proficiency for radiographers

The updated Standards of Proficiency from the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for all AHPs, including diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers, came into effect on 1 September 2023.

These HCPC updates require active implementation of generic standards such as health promotion, inclusivity and confidentiality. Newly registered individuals are expected to meet the updated standards, however, current registrants will only have to comply with the standards that are relevant to their role.

Radiographers who are already registered should evaluate how these changes impact their current scope of practice and take part in CPD to meet the necessary requirements. They should do this in consultation with their line or service manager to ensure that any necessary training requirements are identified and supported. 

The HCPC led a lengthy public and stakeholder consultation exercise to update the standards, which included professional officers from the SoR and views from across the membership.

New chapter for Quality Standard for Imaging (QSI)

The CoR and RCR are extending their collaboration as joint owners of the QSI to offer an alternative scheme that includes a UK-wide QSI Quality Improvement Network designed to foster peer learning and good practice.

The network will also incorporate an endorsement scheme, which is anticipated to operate on a three-year cycle, focusing on comprehensive evaluation against QSI requirements. This will mean the QSI ending its relationship with the UK Accreditation Scheme, which has delivered accreditation in recent years. The Colleges' new scheme will be fully operational from 1 July 2024.

New TAT guidance sets four-week timeframe

The SoR and The Royal College of Radiologists have announced joint NHS England guidance which sets out the ideal turnaround time, in fully staffed areas, for diagnostic imaging reporting. 

Turnaround time (TAT) is the interval between an imaging examination and a verified report being made available to the referring clinician. Keeping TATs as short as possible is essential for the timely diagnosis and treatment of patients.

The new guidance seeks to reflect and codify existing best practice in reporting TATs and, while they are new, the TATs should not be unfamiliar or unachievable. The priority TAT is that no examination should take longer than four weeks to be reported.

Charlotte Beardmore, SoR executive director of professional policy, said: “The SoR welcomes this guidance, as it is positive to see recommendations being made about turnaround times. Having said that, please note the guidance also recognises our current workforce challenges and states that the turnaround times being recommended are based on there being full staffing available to deliver them.”

IRR17 processes updated on registration and consent

Following recommendations by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Health and Safety Executive is changing some of the processes associated with the Ionising Radiations Regulations 2017 (IRR17).

From 1 October 2023, employers will need to submit more information when registering or seeking consent for work with ionising radiation under regulations 6 or 7. If applying for consent for work under regulation 7, you will need to submit a safety assessment. A specialist radiation inspector will review the assessment and HSE will inspect the work practice before consent is granted.

A spokesperson for the SoR said: “These are important changes for employers who work with ionising radiations. Senior managers will be instrumental in registering information about the work undertaken or in applying for consent to practice, including completion of new safety assessment forms”.