Raising awareness: inside the SoR’s breast imaging group
Noelle Clerkin spearheaded the launch of the society’s Breast Imaging Special Interest Group last month. She tells Synergy how the group came to be
By Marese O’Hagan
Noelle Clerkin
Noelle Clerkin
Ivy Okereke
Ivy Okereke
Like many pioneering organisations, Noelle Clerkin’s Breast Imaging Special Interest Group was born out of a problem. While studying for her PhD at the University of Suffolk, Noelle ran into recruitment issues and struggled to get an accurate headcount of all the advanced practitioners and consultant practitioners in practice. This led her to conduct the arduous task of contacting every breast unit in the country. “From that list, I am still no wiser on how many advanced practitioners we have,” she admits.
From here, she was further bolstered by a conversation with Ivy Okereke, a consultant radiographer at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and a PhD candidate, and Sue Johnson, the SoR’s professional officer, at the 2023 Symposium Mammographicum in Glasgow. “We identified the need for a community of practice,” she explains. “Inspired by other fantastic communities, especially the Scottish Breast Special Interest Group (SIG), the Northern Irish Mammography Advanced Practice group (NIMAP) and the fantastic NHS futures advanced practice webinar serious developed by Andy Creeden (lead chest reporting radiographer at Leicester NHS Trust), we knew there was room for breast imaging.”
In her hunt for members, Noelle – also a breast imaging manager, an advanced practitioner and a lead clinical practice educator – was specifically looking for radiographers with the imaging interpretation qualification, a cohort that was “quite tricky” to pin down. This is what led her to bring the idea for a scaled-down version of the Breast Imaging SIG to the Society of Radiographers. “I am currently chair of the Northern Irish Mammography Advanced Practitioner Group,” says Noelle. “I thought a similar format might be successful, so I raised the issue with the society to see if it would be of interest.
“The society was very interested to get something going, but on a larger scale, not just for advanced practice. That’s how the Breast Imaging SIG has grown.”
Paula Hughes
Paula Hughes
Promoting best practice
SoR Special Interest Groups are independent groups that are promoted by the SoR. However, you don’t need to be an SoR member to join one. The groups are centred on specific branches or specialisms within radiography.
Noelle’s Breast Imaging SIG was launched in September, just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A co-chair will be appointed on 18 October.
The SIG aims to connect radiographers working in breast imaging for the purpose of keeping up standards, providing support and improving the delivery of breast imaging services. “This group’s intention is to create consensus of practitioners, providing the opportunity to tap into the wealth of expertise and knowledge,” Noelle explains.
So when it came to recruiting members, there was an emphasis on cultivating a well-rounded group. Mammographers “from all specialities” were picked out, spanning ergonomics, quality assurance (QA), wellbeing, academia, mentorship and preceptorship. This led to further recruitment efforts for advanced practice and consultant practice mammographers. Now, the group has representatives from every region in the UK.
Those ultimately chosen for the SIG were appointed as ‘champions’ within the group. One of these champions is Paula Hughes, QA lead and clinical practice educator QA champion. Paula views the SIG as a “very exciting opportunity”, one that gives breast imaging radiographers a chance to network and share knowledge. “QA is a very important part of any breast imaging department and, through networking with other QA radiographers in similar roles throughout the UK, the SIG will allow us to open up topics of conversation,” she says.
“On a national scale we can work together to streamline QC testing, scheduling, reporting and common faults; sharing tips and tricks that allow for smooth running for our mammography departments.”
Dr Claire Mercer
Dr Claire Mercer
Crucial connections
Dr Claire Mercer is the group’s education and wellbeing champion. She is also the head of radiography at the University of Salford. “Our group aims to bring together individuals passionate about breast imaging to foster connections, share best practices and disseminate crucial updates across all facets of breast imaging,” she explains. “This includes the sub-specialties within education, research and clinical practice.”
Elsewhere, Ivy is the group’s AI champion and representative for England. In her role, Ivy actively promotes the work of the SIG and the Society and College of Radiographers across England. “I act as a crucial link, enabling the flow of valuable information, fostering collaboration and driving greater involvement,” she says.
SoR professional officer Sue is also involved in the group. She ensures that it runs parallel to the society’s overall aims and endeavours.
Having gained a wealth of experience working in different branches of the NHS, Noelle was determined to create a group that showcased the best of the best that breast imaging has to offer. “I know the value and the wealth of experience that is available working in the NHS,” she continues. “I’ve worked in the NHS and I’ve worked in the HSC in Ireland and the HSC in Northern Ireland. I have that exposure to the wealth of practice, the outstanding practice, that there is.”
As well as improving current practice, Noelle says the group will supplement the “excellent standards of care” that already exist across the UK and Ireland: “We have a vision to help deliver these standards of care and help implement change for this ever-changing healthcare system we are in.”
‘A community of practice’
We’ve looked at what the SIG wants to do for the breast imaging community. But what can it offer its members?
A safe space for relatability, says Noelle. “I hope there’s a sense of community there – a community of practice,” she says. “A home for shared education and shared learning. And that they can feel that they can integrate with other trusts, to share documentation and support each other.”
One of the first steps towards enriching that sense of community is delivering on the group’s aims. Noelle tells Synergy that the SIG will present the first of two biannual webinars on 30 October, “just getting in at the end” of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This webinar features speakers across topics such as pathology, LGBTQ+ and wellbeing. “We hope to elevate researchers, elevate good practice and support endeavours such as inspections, projects and the future of artificial intelligence and how that will be implemented – there’s a lot going on in breast imaging at the moment,” she says.
Ultimately, Noelle wants the group to represent the best of radiography across its members, champions, aims and results. It might be early days, but she is determined to make the group reach for the stars. “There are many challenges and discussions to be had, and radiographers are at the core of that,” she explains. “Radiographers take on so many roles within breast imaging, from managers to specialist workers to teachers. A community of practice for all.”
More about SoR Special Interest Groups
SoR Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are groups specially endorsed and promoted by the SoR. Both SoR members and non-members are welcome to join SIGs.
Read here to find out more about SIGs, including guidance and information on specific groups.
Image credit: Getty Images
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