November - 2011

Pensions information hosted on special webpage

There is currently a problem which is preventing SoR members from logging into the members side of the website.

To access information about the ballot process and pensions dispute, please click here to be redirected to a special issue of TopTalk. 

Thank you for your patience.

Jancis is one of a kind

Jancis Kinsman, Advanced Practice Therapy Radiographer at Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, is this year’s UK and South West Radiographer of the Year. She won the awards in recognition of the innovative and unique way she informs children with cancer about their forthcoming radiotherapy treatment. 

“Jancis has always shown a real dedication and passion for her work,” explains colleague Pauline Humphrey, who nominated her for the award.

Working tirelessly in the field of information and support for cancer patients for the past seven years, Jancis identified a need for information specially and sensitively tailored towards young children.

The result was One of a Kind!, a colourful five-minute film using child-friendly language from Aardman Animations, the creators of Wallace and Gromit.

Pauline enthuses how it was thanks to Jancis’ “personal vision, patience and perseverance” – securing the involvement of no fewer than six hospital trusts and eight charities – that the film saw the light of day and is now widely used throughout the UK.

“The finished short animation is an amazing way of communicating with young children through characters they can identify with.”

The film is now routinely used in the UK as part of preparing young children for radiotherapy. It has been very well received and won first prize in the Best Patient Support Initiative category at the 2010 Pfizer Excellence in Oncology Awards. 

Jancis has also developed a successful programme of radiotherapy open evenings for patients, carers and health workers.

Dedication pays off for hard working team

A team of five trainee consultant radiographers at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has achieved national and regional recognition for developing and improving clinical practice and services.

The team – comprising of Alison McGuinness, Lisa Field, Ruth Clarke, Saminah Yunis and Amanda Coates – will be named the Society of Radiographers’ UK Team of the Year at a ceremony at the House of Commons later this month and will also pick up the award for the Yorkshire and North Trent region.

The trainee consultant role was only introduced in 2009/10 and Bev Snaith, who nominated the team, explains how they embraced the challenge with “relish, dedication and enthusiasm, collaboratively supporting each other through the highs and lows”.

She elaborates: “They worked together to drive change and improve clinical practice, despite changes in management structure and new hospital buildings.

“They have been key to ensuring that these transitions have been clinically safe and care pathways have been made relevant to the new surroundings.” 

Despite clinical teams taking time to understand the role, all now recognise these posts as having an important place within the radiology and multidisciplinary team. 

“They do not appreciate that their contribution to the service has been unprecedented and will ensure that consultant practice can flourish.”

As consultant radiographer roles are still relatively rare, the trainees have demonstrated what can be achieved given the investment and time.

“Between them they have introduced or consolidated new radiographer-led services, expanded capacity, brought down waiting times and reduced report turnaround.”

No more World Radiography Day packs

Thanks to unprecedented demand, all the contents for World Radiography Day packs have been sent out. No more requests can be fulfilled.

"We have received over 2000 requests from Society members and radiographers overseas for packs to celebrate World Radiography Day on 8 November," said Dominic Deeson, the Society's publisher.

"This is more than five times the number of requests received in previous years. We have sent out as many as we can and we are advising members who have requested materials to still celebrate World Radiography Day if we cannot meet their request," he continued.

"We have had to 'ration' the number of packs being sent out. We are delighted that the demand is so high but there is a finite amount of materials and our first priority was to ensure that each department which had requested packs received at least one."

If you have any questions about the distribution of packs, please click here to send an email.

If you have missed out, the contents of the pack are available to download from the resources section of the dedicated WRD website.
 

October - 2011

SCoR issues internship warning

The Society has heard worrying reports that a recruitment agency has been using dubious tactics to recruit radiography graduates into an internship scheme.

It is alleged that while exhibiting at an event in the UK, the agency told students that they would have difficulties finding work after they qualified, before offering their scheme as a solution.

The “internship” scheme offers Trusts the opportunity to employ two newly qualified radiographers for the price of one. As the positions are only for a six-month fixed term, the Trust is able to avoid offering the full benefits of employment.

In return, the interns will be paid £180 per week and will get a reference at the end of the six months – but no guaranteed position.

The Society is strongly opposed to this practice which uses scaremongering and inaccurate information to exploit graduates.

There is no evidence of any significant shortage of posts in the UK. The Society collects data on graduate employment rates routinely each year. While some individuals may experience difficulties because of their location and personal circumstances, there have been no reports of any widespread problems in obtaining employment.

Indeed, a recent report by the Migration Advisory Committee recommended that HPC registered diagnostic radiographers, therapeutic radiographers and sonographers all remain on the shortage occupation list, as there are not enough qualified practitioners to fill the posts available.

The internship proposal has been reported to NHS Employers, which has confirmed that this type of practice is unacceptable and is investigating the complaint.

SCoR Chief Executive Richard Evans commented: “It is important that students receive appropriate, truthful information and we aim to ensure that misinformation is exposed. The SoR collects information on graduate employment and there is currently no evidence to suggest that there is a significant problem with new graduates finding posts.”

The Society is asking any student or member who is offered such a scheme to contact it immediately, by calling the professional and education department (020 7740 7200, select option 3) or emailing info@sor.org. Information will be treated sensitively.

It is also urging everyone approached with such an offer to reject it out of hand immediately. As Director of Professional Policy Audrey Paterson advises: “Tell them to get lost – you’ve worked hard for three years to get your qualification and registration, and you’re not going to let anybody devalue it, especially a commercial, for-profit outfit.” 

SoR Reps and managers should remain vigilant to ensure that posts in their departments are open to new graduates and are not being filled in this inappropriate manner.
 

Amendment could halt Health and Social Care Bill

Tomorrow (12 October) Lord Owen and Lord Hennessy will move a vital amendment to the Health and Social Care Bill, calling for part 3 of the Bill to be referred to a Select Committee to be studied in more depth.

The Lords are calling for the amendment as they do not feel part 3 has been sufficiently scrutinised, because of considerable changes made in its final stages in the House of Commons, following the Government’s listening exercise.

Part 3 has been controversial as it calls for increasing competition and defines the role of independent regulator Monitor.

If the amendment is passed, it will slow the progress of the Bill.

The TUC has launched a campaign, calling for people to write to a member of the House of Lords to ask them to support the amendment.

Please click here to visit the website to be allocated a peer to write to.

September - 2011

Radiographers gather to remember Marion Frank

Last Friday (23 September 2011) saw the great and the good of radiography (including at least ten past presidents of the Society) come together to pay tribute to one of the most eminent members of the profession, Marion Frank.

Her life was celebrated at a memorial service at St Marylebone Parish Church, London which was followed by a reception at the Royal Institute of British Architects in Portland Place.

Marion's obituary is published in the October 2011 edition of Synergy News.

The photographs below are of the reception.

Petition to improve radiotherapy services

Charlotte Beardmore, Professional Officer for the Society of Radiographers, is fronting a YouTube clip encouraging members of the public to sign a petition to improve radiotherapy services.

The petition, which will be delivered to 10 Downing Street in early November, is calling on the Government to address the gap in the amount of radiotherapy available to treat cancer patients. It is asking for all patients to be allowed equal access to high technology, world class treatments. 

It is hoped to collect 36,000 signatures as this is the number of people who should be, but are not, receiving radiotherapy treatment each year.

To sign the petition, click here.

TUC supports call for a review of anti-psychotic drug use

Today, the TUC Congress supported the Society’s call for a review of the use of anti-psychotic drugs in the treatment of dementia patients.

There are approximately 700,000 people with dementia in the UK, but this figure is likely to rise rapidly to 1.4 million within the next 30 years. Current methods of treating this disease include delivering doses of an anti-psychotic drug in order to control the patient’s behaviour

Proposing the motion, Sandie Mathers explained: "Of the 180,000 treated with these drugs, 36,000 will get some benefit from the treatment.  On the other hand such usage equates to 1800 deaths and 1620 patients who would suffer adverse effects.

“It is estimated that approximately two thirds of these prescriptions may well be unnecessary. The inappropriate prescribing of anti-psychotic drugs has been described to be a serious clinical and human rights issue.”

Sandie continued to tell an anecdotal story to illustrate that dementia patients are often given anti-psychotic drugs without proper consideration of treatment options.

Appealing to the assembled trade unionists, Sandie said: “We need action now against the inappropriate use of anti-psychotic drugs in this group of patients. NICE guidelines from 2007 recommend patients who display behaviour which is challenging should be given an early assessment, not only to establish factors which contribute to their agitation, but also to improve such behaviour. The giving of anti-psychotic drugs is not a  replacement for good clinical care and practice.

"Conference I ask you all to support this motion and, with your unions, advance at every opportunity the establishment and implementation of national standards for the treatment and care for people living with dementia.”

The motion was seconded by the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. Speaking to support the motion, Katy Collins referred to a study by Kings College and Norwegian researchers which speculated that the aggression and agitation showed by dementia patients was caused by pain and could be controlled with proper pain management.

The motion was passed unanimously.

NHS staff working when sick undermines infection control in hospitals

Frontline staff who look after patients are being pressurised not to take sick leave and come into work when they are ill as part cost saving measures in the National Health Service.

Speakers at the Trades Union Congress (12-14 September, London) condemned employers who are compromising the fight against hospital acquired infections.

“The NHS has spent millions to raise hygiene standards to ensure that patients are not at risk of being infected by bad hygiene or cross-infection,” said Pam Black, vice-president of the Society of Radiographers.

“All the good work will be wiped out the instant an employee is required to work with an infectious disease because an employer wants to save money. Patients are the most vulnerable of the population,” she continued.

“Kitchen and ward staff are all feeling the pressure to be at work no matter what. Both of these areas are at risk if an employer feels the urge to control absenteeism with penalties rather than be responsible and work with the staff to improve attendance.”

Employers are using efficiency savings to introduce amendments to sickness and absence policies that seek to punish staff who are judged to be failing to maintain attendance at work.

“Many of the new procedures that have been introduced pay lip service to an employee’s well-being, are time-consuming to manage with no discernable financial or service benefit and threaten the most vulnerable in the workforce,” Ms Black commented.

“As a result of changes to the negotiated policy, staff feel threatened and intimidated and attend work when they may not be able to work effectively, or are a danger to themselves and patients.”

The motion at TUC, which was carried unaminously, calls on employers to take a more responsible attitude to changes to agreed and negotiated policies, and not see sickness and absenteeism as ‘soft targets’ to save money.

May - 2011

Tell us about your on-call arrangements!

The Trade Unions on the NHS Staff Council subgroup are trying to get a quick picture of progress that organisations in England have made towards harmonising on-call arrangements. 

SoR members are encouraged to complete the survey to ensure the profession is represented in the results.

Completing the survey will only take a couple of minutes and will give a really useful snapshot of what stage this work is at in most trusts.
 
Click here to complete the survey.

November - 2010

Cancer patients 'abandoned after treatment'

The number of cancer patients being admitted to hospital through accident and emergency has doubled in less than a decade amid claims they are being "abandoned" after receiving treatment, a report has found.

Such admissions are meant to be "the exception" but t

Google doodle celebrates 115 years of X-rays

www.guardian.co.uk

October - 2010

New report highlights that investment in staff health and wellbeing is money well spent

HR managers have successfully saved their companies millions of pounds by investing in the health and wellbeing of their staff, according to a new report published today by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).

According to the report, companies providing workplace benefits

August - 2010

UNISON takes legal action over NHS White Paper

UK public service union UNISON has begun legal proceedings against the Secretary of State for Health, challenging his refusal to consult the public on proposals in his White Paper, 'Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS'.

The proposals would bring about the most fundamental changes to the way the NHS operates since it was created.

June - 2010

Tribute paid to Edith Audrey Atkinson

Miss Edith Audrey Atkinson, a radiographer from the Yorkshire and North Trent region, passed sadly last month, on 14 May.

Miss Atkinson, or "sprat" to her friends was born in Sunderland and trained in both diagnostic and therapeutic radiography at The Sunderland School of Radiography under Dr Paige C Arnold.

May - 2010

Join us online today!

It is now even easier to become a member of the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR) and enjoy the numerous benefits SCoR membership offers.

The SCoR has just launched its online joining facility; so if you’re not already a member, you can start enjoying dozens of benefits in less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea.

There are ten different levels of membership depending on your status and current work situation. Details of these can be found here.