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Letter re: Advanced and extended scope of practice of radiographers: The Scottish perspective
Radiography xxx (2016) 1
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Radiography journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/radi
Letter to the Editor
Letter re: Advanced and extended scope of practice of radiographers: The Scottish perspective
Dear Editor, We were very interested to read the article currently in press, entitled Advanced and extended scope of practice of radiographers: The Scottish perspective, by Henderson et al.1 The article gives a fascinating overview of radiographer role development across imaging modalities, and confirms that Scotland continues to lag behind England with regards to the embedding of advanced practice.2,3 It is disappointing to read that the development of a more diverse and autonomous radiographic workforce in Scotland, which will have a positive impact on patient outcomes and reporting turnarounds, has not come to fruition as expected.4 What this study adds is the triangulation of data collection methods with surveys supplemented by in-depth interviews and Trust activity data. The low survey response rate was, quite properly, acknowledged as disappointing, perhaps the study sought to gain too broad an overview of radiographer activity. This may have been difficult for a strategic manager to answer. We felt that the study met its aims but were left with many questions regarding the impact of its findings. Research has once again confirmed that participation in extended and advanced practice is lower in Scotland than England, but where is the strategy or intervention to improve this situation? The article neither recommends changes in practice, nor identifies future research requirements. It does however confirm, once again, that further work is required from those in a position to influence change.
Conflict of interest statement None.
References 1. Henderson I, Mathers SA, McConnell J, Minnoch D. Advanced and extended scope practice of radiographers: the Scottish perspective. Radiography. [in press]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2015.12.002. 2. Snaith B, Lewis E, Hardy M. Radiographer reporting in the UK: a longitudinal analysis. Radiography 2015;21:119e23. 3. Scottish Government. AHPs as agents of change in health and social care - the national delivery plan for the allied health professions in Scotland 2012-2015. Available from: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00395491.pdf [accessed 12.02.16]. 4. Paterson A. Role development - towards 2000. A survey of role developments in radiography. London: The College of Radiographers; 1995.
R. Milner*, M.A. Harris, S. Morrissey, L. Field, B. Snaith Radiology Department, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Pinderfields Hospital, Aberford Road, Wakefield, WF1 4DG, UK *
Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (R. Milner). 15 February 2016 Available online xxx
DOI of original article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2015.12.002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2016.02.005 1078-8174/© 2016 The College of Radiographers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Please cite this article in press as: Milner R, et al.Letter re: Advanced and extended scope of practice of radiographers: The Scottish perspective, Radiography (2016), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2016.02.005
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Radiography journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/radi
Letter to the Editor
Letter re: Advanced and extended scope of practice of radiographers: The Scottish perspective
Dear Editor, We were very interested to read the article currently in press, entitled Advanced and extended scope of practice of radiographers: The Scottish perspective, by Henderson et al.1 The article gives a fascinating overview of radiographer role development across imaging modalities, and confirms that Scotland continues to lag behind England with regards to the embedding of advanced practice.2,3 It is disappointing to read that the development of a more diverse and autonomous radiographic workforce in Scotland, which will have a positive impact on patient outcomes and reporting turnarounds, has not come to fruition as expected.4 What this study adds is the triangulation of data collection methods with surveys supplemented by in-depth interviews and Trust activity data. The low survey response rate was, quite properly, acknowledged as disappointing, perhaps the study sought to gain too broad an overview of radiographer activity. This may have been difficult for a strategic manager to answer. We felt that the study met its aims but were left with many questions regarding the impact of its findings. Research has once again confirmed that participation in extended and advanced practice is lower in Scotland than England, but where is the strategy or intervention to improve this situation? The article neither recommends changes in practice, nor identifies future research requirements. It does however confirm, once again, that further work is required from those in a position to influence change.
Conflict of interest statement None.
References 1. Henderson I, Mathers SA, McConnell J, Minnoch D. Advanced and extended scope practice of radiographers: the Scottish perspective. Radiography. [in press]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2015.12.002. 2. Snaith B, Lewis E, Hardy M. Radiographer reporting in the UK: a longitudinal analysis. Radiography 2015;21:119e23. 3. Scottish Government. AHPs as agents of change in health and social care - the national delivery plan for the allied health professions in Scotland 2012-2015. Available from: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00395491.pdf [accessed 12.02.16]. 4. Paterson A. Role development - towards 2000. A survey of role developments in radiography. London: The College of Radiographers; 1995.
R. Milner*, M.A. Harris, S. Morrissey, L. Field, B. Snaith Radiology Department, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Pinderfields Hospital, Aberford Road, Wakefield, WF1 4DG, UK *
Corresponding author. E-mail address: [email protected] (R. Milner). 15 February 2016 Available online xxx
DOI of original article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2015.12.002. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2016.02.005 1078-8174/© 2016 The College of Radiographers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Please cite this article in press as: Milner R, et al.Letter re: Advanced and extended scope of practice of radiographers: The Scottish perspective, Radiography (2016), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2016.02.005