The Society of Radiographers is working alongside other organisations to launch a radiographer-led nasogastric (NG) tube position check pathway.
Aimed at reducing misplacement incidents and improving patient safety, the pathway has been developed with Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), the British Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (BSGAR) and the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN).
Radiographers will be trained to evaluate and record NG tube placement via X-ray, increasing efficiency and providing a safe consistent structured process.
Continuous learning, quality and safety
Once trained, radiographers can perform these evaluations autonomously in real-time, reducing delays and providing a safe consistent structured clinical evaluation recorded on the Radiology Information System.
NHS sites are being encouraged to pilot this pathway, with support from both SoR and RCR. Trusts and boards need to obtain local governance approval and work with key stakeholders to integrate the pathway into existing clinical workflows.
Continuous learning will be supported through local audits, ensuring quality and safety are maintained. Radiologists play a key role in supporting radiographers and are essential for overseeing the implementation of the pathway.
'Faster, safer care'
Sue Johnson, SoR professional officer for Clinical Imaging, highlighted the initiative’s importance: "This pathway empowers radiographers to take a crucial role in preventing avoidable harm, deliver faster, safer care, and ensuring timely patient interventions."
The pathway involves a structured competency-based training programme, including e-learning modules, to equip radiographers with the skills and confidence to perform NG tube checks independently. NHS Trusts and Health Boards are encouraged to pilot this initiative, with full governance approval required for local implementation.
“The support and guidance provided by both the SoR and RCR ensure radiographers are well-prepared to take on this formalised responsibility, building on their existing skills and knowledge, benefitting both patients and clinical teams,” Johnson added.
This initiative underscores the importance of diagnostic radiographers’ in ensuring timely and safe care through accurate tube placement. For further details, please refer to the RCR website.
Members can find further details about the initiative in a future edition of Synergy, which will feature an in-depth article exploring the pathway and its impact on radiographer practice.
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