A RADIOGRAPHER working at a Devon hospital has said she is unable to afford childcare for the summer holidays, as many in her profession are struggling to make ends meet.
NHS radiographers across the South West began strike action for 48 hours from 8am yesterday, in an effort to tackle the recruitment and retention problems plaguing the profession, which have left one million patients on NHS waiting lists.
Union members at NHS Trusts including University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust have gone on strike, demanding urgent improvements to pay and conditions for the radiography workforce.
Union representatives have worked with NHS Trust executives to provide life and limb cover for patients. This usually means the same staffing levels that would be provided on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Nine out of 10 patients in the NHS are supported by a radiography professional – they are responsible for carrying out X-rays, MRI and CT scans, ultrasounds and breast screening, as well as radiotherapy for cancer patients. However, too few radiographers are being recruited or retained. As a result, a million patients are currently waiting to be seen by a radiographer – often delaying vital diagnosis and treatment for months.
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