The first cohort of students to attend the University of Worcester’s diagnostic radiography course will start clinical placements this month, in part to help tackle national staff shortages and gain practical experience.
The cohort are the first diagnostic radiography students attending the University of Worcester, after the course was launched in September.
The 14 students have been learning about patient care and communication, as well as the technical parts of the job, by examining images and making sure they are suitable for diagnostic purposes.
'It makes a huge difference'
Members of the local health trust have already been delivering sessions prior to the placement beginning, so the students can begin working with patients immediately.
Hilary Baggs, the course leader and principal lecturer in diagnostic radiography at the University of Worcester, said working with patients is “the most exciting part of the job.”
“We are really excited to have our first cohort of students who are about to go out into local hospitals to begin their first placements,” she said.
“As someone who has worked as a radiographer, it makes a huge difference to have people coming to work with you when they’re well trained and have that experience in hospitals.
“Our local trusts are recruiting trained radiographers in both Worcestershire and Herefordshire and we’ve got placement spaces in both of those counties so our students will be becoming part of those teams, those families, within the hospital.”
'Vital practical experience'
Students on the course spend two days a week, gaining placement experience during their three years of study.
David Green, vice chancellor and chief executive of the University of Worcester, added that the students will gain “vital practical experience” to complement their classroom learning and simulation skills.
“It is wonderful that in a little over two years’ time our nurses, nurse associates, midwives, paramedics, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and physician associates will be joined by diagnostic radiographers and, just a year later, by medical doctors.”
Students graduating from the course will be eligible to join the Society of Radiographers and register with the Health and Care Professions Council.
To learn more about the benefits of joining the SoR, and how the society can help students prepare for life after graduating, please visit the Student Hub.
(Picture: University of Worcester)