The London Imaging Academy was set up in 2021 as a collaborative venture between all five London Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) brought together under a London Imaging Academy Hub. Our aim is to provide sustainable, accessible, high-quality, innovative training across the capital, utilising collective training resources to make education more service driven than ever before. The academy functions as a hub and spoke model, with support from NHS England to develop appropriate facilities and opportunities for staff to participate.
Each month academy spokes record their activity, and we are delighted with our progress so far. To date, the London Imaging Academy has delivered and developed:
This reflects the hard work each academy spoke is undertaking to deliver training and education. A snapshot of this work is captured here:
North Central London Imaging Academy
Serving seven major London hospitals and two community diagnostic centres, the North Central London Imaging Academy is led by academy manager Yvonne Thackray, and supported by practice educators Grace Finn (CT), Andrew Wendruff (first post practitioner), Noyal Mathew (MRI) and Angie White (ultrasound). The team has made significant strides in advancing simulation-based education.
Their innovative approach includes sessions focused on managing deteriorating patient scenarios, enhancing radiographers’ critical response capabilities. This has earned national recognition, winning an award at the 2024 HSJ Patient Safety Awards.
The academy’s acquisition of Corsmed Simulator licences has bolstered MRI training, allowing staff to practise without live patients. Additionally, they are developing a ‘Community of Practice’ in AI to further integrate digital enhancements and AI in medical imaging. Study days and a robust preceptorship programme, alongside initiatives such as journal clubs and the bi-monthly ImagiNews newsletter, underscore the academy’s commitment to continuous professional development.
The London Imaging Academy team receiving their 2024 HSJ award
The London Imaging Academy team receiving their 2024 HSJ award
North East London Imaging Academy
Launched fully in December 2022, the North East London Imaging Academy is located at King George Hospital and offers additional support following the initial establishment of the Ultrasound Training Academy in October 2021, based at Whipps Cross Hospital. The academies offer state-of-the-art resources that mirror real-life clinical settings. The imaging academy team is led by Amit Marks and supported by practice educators Rahima Ali, Eloise Paterson and Lawrence Reyes. The Ultrasound Academy is led by Annie Knowles and supported by Ervis Kaca, Emily Larkin and Rosalind Woolf.
Cutting-edge training facilities, including MRI simulators, provide a controlled environment for students to refine their skills. The Ultrasound Academy also supports a radiologist training programme, has offered taster trainee days for interested future applicants and hosted DVT, carotid, probe care and Alexander technique study days. Training needs analysis conducted in 2023 ensures the academy’s offerings align with the evolving demands of the imaging professions. Plans for 2024 include expanded and SoR-accredited MRI training programmes (including the recently endorsed MRI intermediate course on MRI abdomen), CT colonography and CT cardiac courses, and support for both undergraduate and postgraduate radiographers. The Ultrasound Academy aims to extend its training in musculoskeletal, head and neck, obstetric and Graf hip scanning.
North East London Imaging Academy
Launched fully in December 2022, the North East London Imaging Academy is located at King George Hospital and offers additional support following the initial establishment of the Ultrasound Training Academy in October 2021, based at Whipps Cross Hospital. The academies offer state-of-the-art resources that mirror real-life clinical settings. The imaging academy team is led by Amit Marks and supported by practice educators Rahima Ali, Eloise Paterson and Lawrence Reyes. The Ultrasound Academy is led by Annie Knowles and supported by Ervis Kaca, Emily Larkin and Rosalind Woolf.
Cutting-edge training facilities, including MRI simulators, provide a controlled environment for students to refine their skills. The Ultrasound Academy also supports a radiologist training programme, has offered taster trainee days for interested future applicants and hosted DVT, carotid, probe care and Alexander technique study days. Training needs analysis conducted in 2023 ensures the academy’s offerings align with the evolving demands of the imaging professions. Plans for 2024 include expanded and SoR-accredited MRI training programmes (including the recently endorsed MRI intermediate course on MRI abdomen), CT colonography and CT cardiac courses, and support for both undergraduate and postgraduate radiographers. The Ultrasound Academy aims to extend its training in musculoskeletal, head and neck, obstetric and Graf hip scanning.
North West London Imaging Academy
The North West London Imaging Academy enhances training quality and accessibility across the region. A well-developed Ultrasound Academy, with dedicated training rooms and simulation equipment, has already helped to upskill regional sonographers and support SPRs and healthcare scientists. In 2023 alone, it provided more than 4,000 hours of support, while simultaneously delivering additional patient activity. The Ultrasound Academy training is delivered by practice educators Mohammad Haroon Qarib, Sujata Patel, Roopam Rabadia and Kamal Bambhania.
In MRI, the academy has made use of newly opened community diagnostic centres as sites for training lists, alongside a bespoke training academy digital programme hosted in a unique space at Charing Cross Hospital. To date it has provided support to more than 50 trainees, with 1,100-plus hours of supervision from the practice educator team of Olga Costa, Andrew Worsley and Israa Osman.
In CT, practice educator Nelson Santos has developed a suite of online modules for trainees across London and hosted a very successful regional Cardiac CT study day.
North West London Imaging Academy
The North West London Imaging Academy enhances training quality and accessibility across the region. A well-developed Ultrasound Academy, with dedicated training rooms and simulation equipment, has already helped to upskill regional sonographers and support SPRs and healthcare scientists. In 2023 alone, it provided more than 4,000 hours of support, while simultaneously delivering additional patient activity. The Ultrasound Academy training is delivered by practice educators Mohammad Haroon Qarib, Sujata Patel, Roopam Rabadia and Kamal Bambhania.
In MRI, the academy has made use of newly opened community diagnostic centres as sites for training lists, alongside a bespoke training academy digital programme hosted in a unique space at Charing Cross Hospital. To date it has provided support to more than 50 trainees, with 1,100-plus hours of supervision from the practice educator team of Olga Costa, Andrew Worsley and Israa Osman.
In CT, practice educator Nelson Santos has developed a suite of online modules for trainees across London and hosted a very successful regional Cardiac CT study day.
South West London Imaging Academy
The South West London Imaging Training Academy supports a multi-professional environment for imaging workforce training and development, covering bands 2-8. Led by Fiona Addlesee and driven by the team of practice educators including Charlene Adade, Lisa Bannerman-Hyde, Senita Mandair, Robin Jacob and Nick Downard, the academy has conducted 83 educational events, with 1,675 attendees trained.
Key programmes include a series of specialist radiography study days all endorsed by the SoR, with more than 425 attendees from across the UK in partnership with industry and higher education providers. The South West Academy developed and delivered the first of its kind NHS SoR-accredited IV cannulation and contrast administration course specifically for radiographers, a pioneering leadership programme (#Radleaders) spanning all bands, modality introduction workshops for CT, MRI and mammography, and ultrasound education, induction and preceptorship programmes. All new Band 5 radiographers and sonographers (including international recruits) in South West London were provided with a three-day intensive induction programme, which supported their transition into their career. The team also supported apprentices within the sector, ensuring additional qualified radiographers join the workforce. The academy actively promoted radiography as a career through its outreach programme.
The academy’s commitment to clinical practice, education, leadership and research is evident in its extensive offerings and groundbreaking accredited programmes, which support lifelong learning of the imaging workforce.
South East London Imaging Academy
The South East London Imaging Academy focused on improving the quality and quantity of ultrasound training and education. In one year, 53 lectures covering various topics were delivered and these were complemented by practical sessions. These included interventional ultrasound sessions, using phantoms and simulators for practice, and have been particularly well received.
Patient-led ultrasound lists in a dedicated training room allow trainees ample time to practise technique and gain confidence scanning and reporting independently. The South East Academy supports trainee sonographers, radiologists, an international recruitment project, preceptorship programmes and multidisciplinary CPD. Collaborations with Philips Ultrasound systems and King’s College London lecturers have led to successful study days and presentations on advanced ultrasound.
The benefits of improving education via an imaging academy are immense and correlate with improved patient care and outcomes. A training needs analysis was conducted in early 2024 to guide the future training required. We hope to build upon the progress made and widen participation to all radiology staff from Band 3 upwards, becoming more multi-disciplinary and extending comprehensive support across various modalities.
Since the launch of the imaging academies, radiography staff turnover has significantly decreased (from 11.3 per cent in June 2022 to 7.4 per cent in September 2024), highlighting the successful impact of the academies’ work.
What next for the imaging academies?
The imaging academies are set for significant advancements and expansions in their training programmes to better serve the imaging workforce and improve patient care.
The regional project that launched our online learning platform on 7 May 2024 ensures that education is as accessible as possible to those working in the capital. It provides a central platform to find relevant courses, including self-paced learning, as well as a place to book on to face-to-face training, online workshops and study days hosted by the academies. The launch has been incredibly successful so far, with more than 1,400 users registered and actively engaging in our courses, providing both excellent education for learners and significant time saving for educators. Currently the platform contains content spanning all modalities, with BMUS-endorsed ultrasound self-paced learning, MRI training series, preceptorship programmes and career series through to bitesize training videos and quizzes. New content is being continually developed by educators across the region, with modules in paediatric ultrasound and AI for radiographers, a new nuclear medicine training programme and courses in communication tailored for the imaging workforce currently in development, as well as many more. We are continually enhancing the learning experience for users and are excited for our integration with Collective Minds to be completed to offer learners even more in-depth, interactive learning experiences.
Looking forwards, the imaging academies are focusing on sustainability, building on the foundation laid during the three-year NHS England initiative. We are collectively working to maintain the progress we have achieved and are actively seeking opportunities to collaborate with our partner academies across England. These collaborations aim to benefit the imaging community, both now and in the future.
More about the London Imaging Academy
The London Imaging Academy was set up in 2021. A joint venture between the five London Integrated Care Systems brings together the London Imaging Academy Hub, which aims to provide accessible, high-quality, innovative training across the capital, utilising collective training resources to make education more service driven than ever before.
For more information contact hello@londonimagingacademy.org.uk
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