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NHS modernisation - an update for radiographers

  • Last modified date:
    20 August 2007

Radiographers are critical to the delivery of both imaging and radiotherapy services. These services are in turn critical to the delivery of the NHS Plan and the NHS Cancer Plan. In both areas demands for services are increasing. High priority is therefore being given to recruiting and retaining radiographers in the NHS.

This guide gives a brief overview of actions being taken at a national level and provides contact details and links for easy access to further information. The broad programme of work includes:

  • Increasing staffing levels/capacity and training opportunities
  • Supporting effective recruitment, retention and attracting returners
  • Streamlining care processes - service redesign
  • Changing roles and building new teams - role redesign and implementation
  • Introducing a new four tier structure - skill mix and occupational standards
  • Modernising facilities to enhance services for patients and retention of staff
  • Increasing staffing levels/capacity and training opportunities

Increasing staffing levels/capacity and training opportunities

The number of diagnostic radiographers in the NHS increased by 7.7% between 1997 and 2001 (from 10,360 to 11,160);LL and therapeutic radiographers increased by 9% (from 1,410 to 1,540). Training places for diagnostic and therapeutic radiography were increased by 168 (28%) between 1996/97 and 2000/01 and they are being increased further.

From October 2002, under Meeting the Challenge: A Strategy for the Allied Health Professions, new first wave AHP courses began operating, including Radiography, involving thirteen universities and colleges, working with eleven Workforce Development Confederations (WDC's). Work has now begun on developing an evaluation programme for the first wave programme and on rolling out modernisation to the remaining AHP professions and WDCs not involved in the first wave.

Supporting effective recruitment, retention and attracting returners

Trusts, with support from Workforce Development Confederations, may use national recruitment, retention and returner support material on Improving Working Lives and NHS Careers. See www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/careers

The Modernisation Agency's Recruitment & Retention Initiatives Team provide support through a national collaborative, action learning networks, diagnostic assessment and locally commissioned support. Further information is available from 07884 473269.

Streamlining care processes - service redesign

The Modernisation Agency's Cancer Services Collaborative (CSC) and Access, Booking and Choice (ABC) programmes are designed to help staff improve the organisation of services. Delays for patients are often caused by the way the system is organised. These national programmes help service teams map what happens to their patients, look at capacity and demand, and test changes to streamline the process of care.

A toolkit to support Radiology services redesign has been tested by 14 pilot sites and developed by a further 23 teams. The Radiotherapy toolkit is currently being revised following testing in 33 cancer networks (as at Dec 02).

Changing roles and building new teams - role redesign and implementation

The Changing Workforce Programme (CWP) is a national programme that supports staff in developing and implementing new or amended roles and processes that will improve patient services, tackle staff shortages and increase job satisfaction. The approach involves work to explore the causes of local issues and consider what roles may help. The CWP Toolkit for Local Change is used to support organisations resolve problems and assist with planning.

The Accelerated Development Programme (ADP) for Radiography is part of the CWP and builds on role redesign which has already being tested in radiography skill-mix sites or in other development sites. It helps staff identify new roles, make the necessary preparations, and implement roles successfully.

Skill-mix - The four-tier system and national occupational standards

Skill-mix projects develop standards to underpin new roles and practices within radiography across breast screening, radiotherapy and clinical imaging. The standards confirm existing roles and functions and form a basis for the design of new roles envisaged in a four-tier structure with assistant practitioners, state registered practitioners, advanced practitioners and consultants.

National Occupational Standards under development by radiographers and others will provide clarity on the skills, competencies and knowledge requirements of the new radiographic teams.

Modernising Facilities

Between April 2000 and mid-November 2002, equipment delivered to the NHS through central funding includes 33 new MRI Scanners, 54 Linear Accelerators, 113 CT Scanners, and over 400 items of breast screening equipment. Approximately 28% of MRI scanners, 50% of CT scanners and 40% of Linacs in use in the NHS in England have been installed post-January 2000.

By the end of 2004, central programmes will have provided approximately 100 MRI scanners, 100 Linear Accelerators and 200 CT scanners for the NHS. By this date there will be approximately five NHS MRI scanners per million population (up from 3.9 in 2000) and seven CT scanners per million population (up from 5.5 in 2000).

Further information on equipment programmes is available from local Trust managers, cancer networks and Strategic Health Authorities.

For further information

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