In this section
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On October 26, 2024, the Scottish Council of the Society of Radiographers (SoR) hosted their annual study day to celebrate and advance the practice of radiography across Scotland. Our overarching vision is to empower radiographers through excellent communication, influential leadership, and forward-thinking practices, advancing the profession to a brighter future.
The Council is driven by four key strategic themes:
- Communicating with members: We aim to strengthen connections within our membership by promoting the value of membership, creating networking opportunities, and delivering essential information to new members. Engagement is fostered through newsletters and by inviting key stakeholders to council meetings and events.
- Creating a sustainable council: Our strategy focuses on sustainability by revitalizing communication roles and ensuring content remains engaging on platforms like LinkedIn and Instagram. By promoting roles and sharing best practices, we aim to build a vibrant and well-informed council that will thrive for years.
- Influencing on behalf of Scottish members: We understand the importance of visibility and advocacy. Training representatives, enhancing their workplace presence, and building relationships with influential stakeholders will enable us to strengthen our collective voice and impact.
- Raising the profile of the profession: Efforts to improve public perception focus on recruitment and retention, as well as effectively communicating our initiatives to members and the wider community.
What took place: Claire Currie's session
Claire Currie Chair of Scottish Council and Senior Lecturer Glasgow Caledonian University welcomed attendees and shared this vision, setting an inspiring tone for the event. Society President Tom Welton’s subsequent address reinforced the commitment to fostering growth and leadership.
Claire Currie’s session on behalf of Carina MacIver addressed the vital role of radiographers in supporting victims of human trafficking, underscoring the importance of empathy and alertness within clinical practice. There are four learning opportunity resources currently available for NHS staff on TURAS Learn.
Kelsey Normand's session on Human Factors
Following this, Kelsey Normand, an Advanced Practitioner in Education and Development at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, shared insights on human factors in healthcare. Known for her NES AHP Fellowship (2021) focusing on technology-enabled resources for therapeutic radiographers and her completion of the NES/University of the Highlands and Islands Technology-Enhanced Learning Programme (2022), Kelsey demonstrated how understanding human behaviour is crucial for safety and efficiency.
Human Factors is an area where activities and procedures can be designed in such a way as to prevent errors taking into account human imperfections. Humans are by their nature fallible, we are all human. This is more prevalent when we are distracted, tired or preoccupied, something that the clinical environment challenges us with daily.
Human factors identifies the capabilities and limitations of people to manage, understand, and develop scientific knowledge and principles, using lessons learned from previous incidents, and operational experience to optimise well-being, safety, reliability, and system performance.
A SoR document which includes the importance of human factors is Preventing Patient Identification Incidents in Diagnostic Imaging, Nuclear Medicine and Radiotherapy – guiding principles for safe practice in the United Kingdom Preventing-Patient-ID-Errors-Guidance-20052022
Louise Mifsud's session on Inclusivie Pregnancy Practices
Louise Mifsud, a lecturer at Robert Gordon University (RGU), presented preliminary SoR survey results on inclusive pregnancy practices. Her work includes advocating for LGBTQIA+ care in diagnostic radiography and supported SoR in development and deployment of this recent survey which was produced following a successful Scottish motion at this year’s Annual Delegates Conference.
Joanne Mitchell's session on the challenges and triumphs of academic research
Joanne Mitchell, a PhD student, offered attendees a personal glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of academic research. Followed up by Professor Elaine Hunter, renowned for her strategic leadership with Alzheimer Scotland and the Scottish Government, led an engaging session on dementia awareness for allied health professionals. Her influential work, including the evidence-based AHP dementia policies “Connecting People, Connecting Support” (2017, 2020), and her active online presence (@elaineahpmh), were highlighted. TURAS offer four on line learning opportunities, why not log on and learn to develop your skills in these important areas. Turas | My Turas | Signed Out
Eva Starkey's presentation on the importance of blending education with clinical practice
Eva Starkey, now a lecturer at RGU, emphasized the importance of blending education with clinical practice in her presentation, “Radiation to Education”. Sessions by Marc Turner and Jacob Morgan of Philips showcased how their innovations blend history and future-focused technology. Louise Jones added depth by discussing AI's role in advancing diagnostic imaging. Finally, Shaun Buchanan and Karen McGinniss shared the rapid development of their thrombectomy service for the West of Scotland, showcasing clinical dedication and the life saving necessity for speedy diagnosis and treatment.
The day concluded with a raffle, the top prize being a year’s membership with SoR, and the Council’s AGM, solidifying the commitment to professional growth and collaboration. This study day not only celebrated radiographic excellence but also strengthened the foundation for a thriving, connected future.
Claire Currie, Chair of Scottish Council and Julie Rankin, Scotland Professional Officer