Radiographers can showcase their work in public health by sharing brief case studies to the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH) website.
A template for the case studies can be downloaded before submitting for approval and publication.
Public health aims to prevent disease, prolong life, and improve quality of life through organised efforts and informed choices of society, organisations, communities and individuals.
Public health in radiography
AHP case studies demonstrate how innovative programmes, service design, quality improvement and training can positively affect the public's health and well-being.
Examples of public health in radiography include radiation protection, screening, health promotion and intervention, falls prevention and management of radiotherapy side effects.
Other key areas of public health include policy development and advocacy, health protection and emergency preparedness, research and evaluation, collaboration and partnership, and population health intelligence.
Find out more about the functions and standards of public health here.
Case studies for the RSPH
Linda Hindle, deputy chief AHP officer for England and national engagement lead for police, fire, and ambulance services, said: “We know there is some fantastic work across the UK, and we want to share it with others and promote the value and impact of AHPs across the range of public health and prevention approaches.
“If you have completed a piece of work that you are proud of and want to see it published on our AHP hub on the Royal Society of Public Health website, do it now! There are a wide range of categories and you’ll be surprised at what you are doing that encompasses a public health or prevention approach.”
Radiographers interested in sharing a case study, abstract or publication can find more information online here, including examples of prior public health works by radiographers.
SoR Health Improvement and Public Health Special Interest Group
Radiographers interested in public health, including delivering sustainable services, can join the Health Improvement and Public Health in Radiography Special Interest Group, open to any member of the Society of Radiographers.
The aims of this group are to:
- Share good practice and assist with overcoming of barriers to brief public health interventions within radiography in the clinical setting and the embedding of public health within the pre-registration curriculum
- Encourage early adopters and practitioners interested in this field to collaborate to support service improvement and research collaborations where appropriate
- Provide a central place for the sharing of resources (policy/learning materials for example)
- Publicise CPD opportunities and encourage networking
UK Allied Health Professional Public Health Strategy
Following a survey earlier this year, a draft of the next UK Allied Health Professional Public Health Strategy is in progress, with the SoR calling for radiographers to support it. The strategy will incorporate the three domains of public health, focussing on the specific contribution that AHPs have within Health Protection, Health Services, and Health Improvement.
The five key themes will include a continued focus on developing the workforce and the importance of AHPs in influencing the wider public health agenda, alongside running “threads” such as delivering on social justice, health inequalities, advocating for communities, and delivering sustainable healthcare services.
The final draft of the strategy will be shared with the working group in September, and the SoR group members will provide feedback. Over the next two months, each of the four nations’ AHP leads will align language and applicability, before the final draft will be sent to the UK strategic board in November.
AHP networks across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will be updated by their nation lead, as well as professional bodies through their nation’s policy officers.