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Top performers in NHS league tables to be rewarded with ‘greater freedoms’
The Trade Unions Congress, via the SoR
The Trade Unions Congress, via the SoR
A new way of ranking NHS league tables was launched across England last month, which sees trusts ranked quarterly.
The league tables have been described as a “major reform milestone”, forming part of the government’s Plan for Change. Trusts that top the league tables will be permitted to reinvest excess budgets into trust improvements such as new diagnostic equipment and upgrades for hospitals.
Trusts will be categorised into four performance segments. The first will represent the best-performing trusts and the last will show the most challenged trusts. Trusts named in the middle segments will be urged to study the top performers.
By summer 2026, the tables will cover Integrated Care Boards and other areas of NHS performance.
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: “These league tables will identify where urgent support is needed and allow high-performing areas to share best practices with others, taking the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS.”
SoR asks whether nurses’ graduate guarantee job scheme should be extended to radiographers
Attendees at the SoR student conference, by Eva Slusarek
IAttendees at the SoR student conference, by Eva Slusarek
The SoR has questioned whether a new graduate guarantee scheme designed for newly qualified nurses could be extended to radiographers.
The initiative allows newly qualified nurses to apply for vacancies before they formally arise through a regional vacancy pooling system. In permitting hospitals to pool vacancies and recruit from a group of incoming graduates, students will not need to submit as many applications and will not face as much competition. Also, students who may be offered a role far away from home will have more time to prepare for a move.
The SoR is monitoring the programme’s progress and will be in communication with nursing unions and the Royal College of Midwives to see if the scheme could be suitable for other professions where there is a shortage of workers. However, the trade union has also said that it would need support from stakeholders.
Upon launching the scheme, the government said it planned to support it with funding to create roles and a new online hub for nurses and midwives.
Society responds to student concerns about radiation safety
The SoR has released a statement in response to concerns about how radiation safety is managed during students’ clinical site placements.
Concerns stemmed from the SoR’s 2024 student survey, which revealed UK-wide discrepancies in radiation dose monitoring. Of the 858 survey respondents, 72 – 8 per cent – said they had not been given a personal dose monitor by their university or placement site.
“The Ionising Radiations Regulations (IRR) 2017 place responsibilities on employers and employees that are generally well understood,” said Lynda Johnson, SoR professional officer for clinical imaging and radiation protection.
“However, some SoR student members had raised concerns about inconsistencies in the way their radiation doses were monitored. Some students were issued with personal dose monitors and others were not.”
The survey also found that radiation risk assessments were not consistently made available for trainees and apprentices.
The SoR’s statement emphasises elements of the IRR 2017, specifically regulations 16 and 8.
SoR makes waves at TUC Congress 2025
Susann McCracken speaking at the Trades Union Congress, via the SoR
Susann McCracken speaking at the Trades Union Congress, via the SoR
Staff at the SoR presented several motions at this year’s TUC Congress, flying the flag for inclusivity, improved opportunities for radiographers and better pay for public services.
Dean Rogers, director of industrial strategy and member relations, Leandre Archer, head of industrial relations, and Susann McCracken, SoR vice president, all spoke at this year’s conference, which was held on 7-10 September in Brighton.
The SoR supported motion C03 and motion 30, as well as proposing motion C06.
Motion C03 sought to ensure that migrant workers would not be blamed for the issues facing the labour market, and emphasised that the government’s moves to change the immigration system would harm vital services. It was proposed by the Public and Commercial Services Union and Unison. As well as the SoR, it was supported by the National Education Union and the GMB.
Motion 30 was presented by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and asked the TUC to put pressure on the government to change its approach to pay for public sectors. It identified issues such as the NHS retention crisis and recruitment freezes – two issues also facing the radiography sector.
Susann addressed attendees at the TUC Congress for the first time as she presented motion C06. The motion – which was seconded by finance sector union Aegis – proposed adjustments that could be made for neurodivergent employees in the workplace.
All three motions were carried.
Milestone reached as 100,000 people scanned in UK’s largest imaging scheme
Steve, the 100,000th volunteer to be scanned, via Biobank
Steve, the 100,000th volunteer to be scanned, via Biobank
A landmark was reached by the UK Biobank project as it reached its goal of 100,000 people scanned under its scheme.
Images were taken of volunteers’ brains, hearts and other organs. Combined with genetic and lifestyle information, this could help to identify new patterns of disease.
The project has been active for 11 years and, in total, it has seen 500,000 cumulative hours spent scanning and £60m invested. This data has been made available around the world to support research into common health conditions such as heart disease and cancer. UK Biobank carries out various types of scans, including MRI, bone-density scans and ultrasound.
During their appointment, volunteers underwent an MRI scan where 12,000 scans were collected. So far, more than 1,300 peer-reviewed scientific papers have been published based on the scheme’s imaging data.
“Researchers are already starting to use the imaging data, along with other data we have, to identify disease early and then target treatment at an earlier stage,” said Professor Naomi Allen, chief scientist at UK Biobank.
Belonging, respect and support for all: a public statement from the SoR
The Society and College of Radiographers (SoR) has released a statement clarifying its position as a trade union proud to represent people with a diverse range of backgrounds and perspectives.
This statement comes following recent public debates on the subject of immigration and an increased visibility of national symbols, including the St George’s flag and the Union Jack.
“While flags can be a source of pride and identity, we recognise that, in the current climate, they may also be experienced as exclusionary, intimidating or unsettling when used in divisive ways,” the statement reads.
The trade union went on to confirm that equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) is a core SCoR value and pointed to its EDIB action plan, which outlines how these commitments are implemented across membership, workforce, profession and patients.
“We are clear: discrimination, harassment, racism, bullying or intimidation – whether expressed verbally, through symbols or in behaviour – are unacceptable and have no place in our profession,” the statement continues. “These behaviours undermine patient care, damage teams and go against our shared values of integrity, equity, advocacy, courtesy and openness.”
Black History Month panel asks: ‘What does real progress look like?’
Earlier this month, members of the SoR came together for a practical, hopeful conversation about equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging for Black History Month.
The panel and live Q&A, titled Standing Firm in Power and Pride, was hosted by the SoR’s equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) consultant, Rubi Gubara-Sannie.
Listeners were privy to a comprehensive discussion on breaking barriers and driving real system change, sponsorship beyond mentoring, busting myths of ‘readiness’, and how to embed anti-racism in daily practice.
The theme of this year’s Black History Month is about recognising strength, resilience and leadership while being honest about the barriers that remain, and what needs to change.
Rubi said: “The radiography registration base is pretty diverse, but when you compare that to representation within healthcare, there’s a difference. Why are we not getting ethnically diverse radiographers in the most senior positions?”
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