What lies in store for radiography students when they qualify?
This was the question posed by speakers at this year’s SoR student conference on 19 February. The picture painted was positive.
SoR director of industrial relations, Warren Town, spoke about the ‘Changing nature of the NHS’. He asked: “Are we going to see changes to the NHS that will affect student radiographers? Yes, but your choices will be more varied that a lot of your colleagues in other disciplines.
"As the structure changes, radiographers will have different opportunities for practice, often meaning extended opportunities. You may find yourself working for local government; walk-in healthcare; independent treatment centres; healthcare centres; or elsewhere in the world. It's up to you, once you have the skills you can see where your market is, decide what you want to do and go for it.”
Second year Nick Bidgood from University of Hertfordshire was relieved to hear the forecast. He said: "It was good to hear prospects are improving for student radiographers and I feel positive that things look good for me when I qualify.
"Warren brilliantly described the situation with the NHS. Failure to properly plan the workforce has meant constant boom and bust. His opinion was that the bust is behind us and he was optimistic about the future. So in 2009, when I qualify, I'm hoping for a boom again!"
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