The subscription rate for student members of the Society of Radiographers has been frozen, despite measures taken to protect the organisation from the credit crunch.
While other members will be hit by £12 a year subs increase, the Society’s UK Council took the decision at its June meeting not to allow this to affect students.
“Like everyone else, the organisation is feeling the pinch of the credit crunch, but in view of the debt already faced by many radiography students we are loathe to up the fee,” said Michael Graveling, the Society’s president. “Other members will experience an increase, but at the same time our subscription fees will still be the lowest of all the professional health unions.”
Membership subscriptions are the single largest source of the Society’s income. A continuing growth in new members and improved efficiency savings has minimised the increase, which takes effect from 1 October.
“The profile of radiography in the healthcare ‘mix’ has increased hugely in recent years, which is great for the profession and the individuals who work in it, but it does mean that there is more pressure on the Society to keep up," commented Richard Evans, the SoR’s CEO.
Richard said the need to make the case for skills mix and role extension as part of cost effective services and emerging issues, such as the Independent Safeguarding Authority, show that the pressure is likely to increase.
“There are increasing expectations and demands for professional advice and guidance, and individual representation, advocacy and support for members and students. The importance of early and more imaging in terms of effective patient management, and the need to speed up and improve access to radiotherapy services, are major policy drivers in each of the four countries of the UK and, because healthcare is devolved, has to be dealt with on a country-by-country basis,” he continued.
He also pointed out that the economic crisis is affecting the SoR because the value of the Society’s investments is falling and there has been a large reduction in the interest earned on cash reserves.
Neil Williams, the Society’s director of finance, said: “A fundamental issue is that members need to be sure that we are spending their money as efficiently as we can and that we are taking every opportunity to make savings.
“For many years we have followed a policy of increasing the subscription rates when we have to by a small amount, rather than ‘saving them up’ for several years and then having to hit the membership with a large increase,” Neil continued.
• A reminder that complimentary membership for 2008 first years ends on 30 September, to renew for just £4 a month call 0207 740 7200.
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