The date marks the anniversary of the discovery of x-radiation by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895.

This year we are celebrating WRD with blogs from our UHP Radiography colleagues.

Helene Baudains – CT Radiographer and CT Head Reporting Radiographer

My favourite thing about being a radiographer is the variety of patients you see and multidisciplinary teams you work with on a daily basis. We work in every part of the hospital, day and night and are always in demand. Being a Radiographer is more than just taking x-rays and although you are with a patient for often a short period of time the impact you can have on them and their care can be huge.

I am lucky enough to have been able to train as an Advanced Practitioner in CT head reporting whilst clinically being a CT Radiographer. This had allowed me to actively engage in helping to diagnose abnormalities found on a CT Head, and when working clinically, scanning patients from a large variety of backgrounds, ranging from GP, oncology trial, paediatric, major trauma and acute stroke patients, to name just a few.

I work with a fantastic team who are highly skilled in what they do and support each other really well.

Although some days can be challenging, I wouldn’t change the job I am in.

Chris Bowen – Radiotherapy Services Manager

I graduated from the South Wales School of Radiography as a Therapeutic Radiographer in 1993 and started work in Plymouth shortly after in 1994. Since qualification I have worked at all levels of the job and gained a wealth of experience over the years, working with many wonderful colleagues and patients. My job is very varied and no two days are the same. One day I could be attending a full day of meetings the next I could be donning a uniform and helping out with clinical work.

Over the years Radiotherapy has developed at a great rate offering many development opportunities and fulfils the profession ethos of lifelong learning.

There are many varied roles in Radiotherapy including:

· External Beam Treatment Delivery
· Brachytherapy Treatment Delivery
· Patient Support Services
· Pre-treatment Radiographers performing CT scans
· Clinical Site Specific Radiographers
· Radiotherapy Planning

The best thing about my role is being able to manage and develop our passionate and dedicated group of Therapeutic Radiographers.

Their skill and commitment to provide exemplary treatment delivery and outstanding patient care to improve the patient experience is truly inspiring and I am proud to be able to work with such a brilliant group.

Louise Hancock – Lead Practice Educator, Diagnostic Radiographer and University Clinical Tutor

After graduating from the University of Exeter in 2010 I started my career as a Diagnostic Radiographer at UHPT within the X-ray department as Trauma and Plain film radiographer. I studied to be a radiographer as a mature student, knowing I wanted a more fulfilling career. Diagnostic radiography offered that, as it gave me the opportunity to work as part of team with patients and carers to deliver high levels of patient care, whilst providing a diagnosis to support treatments and aid recovery.

The part of my role I enjoyed most was teaching others. This led me to pursue Post Graduate study in Clinical Education and I now have a dual role as the Lead Practice Educator within the Plain Film Imaging department and a University Clinical Tutor for the University of Exeter Medical Imaging programme.

I love the opportunity both my roles present in shaping the future of the profession by educating the radiographers of here and now, and tomorrow. I have the privilege of working with passionate radiographers and students who feel proud of the role they play in the healthcare system.

As a team we have shown ourselves to be resilient, adaptable and compassionate.

Sarah Hitchcock – Band 6 Urology Lead Therapeutic Radiographer

My Name is Sara Hitchcock. I’ve been qualified for just under five years and the best part of my job is the patients. As we see the majority of patients for an extended period of time, being able to build a relationship with them and knowing that you are there to help is so rewarding. In our role we are involved with the planning and delivery of patients radiotherapy treatment, as well as providing pastoral care for them throughout.

As the Urology Lead I work particularly close with the Consultants and Specialist Nurses to continuously improve and advance our care for this specific group of patients. I found out about therapeutic radiographers when I was in Primary school, as my auntie had cancer and I would go with her to some of her radiotherapy appointments.

The kindness and support the staff gave my auntie through this tough time inspired me to become a therapeutic radiographer myself.

Michelle Kapoor – Trauma Plain Film Radiographer

Hello, my name is Michelle, and I am a Trauma Plain film Diagnostic Radiographer performing X-rays, who circulates through the general imaging department which includes;

• ED
• In-patients, Out-patients and GP patients which includes orthopaedics and oncology
• And Theatre and Mobile imaging.

The role is very varied and I can find myself working with a huge range of different patients in any given week. I have been a radiographer for just over a year, I always been interested in anatomy and working with people, and found radiography through work experience at this hospital.

My role entails not only delivering high quality diagnostic imaging and patient care but also teaching and supervising newly qualified radiographers and students. 

I feel like I have learnt so much in the last year working on the front line and COVID has definitely made this year interesting to say the least.

I feel so lucky to have such a great team who have supported me through this unique experience. Plymouth is such a lovely place to work and while it is home for me, I can’t say it has ever been boring.  

Jeanette Owen – Lead Radiographer Theatre and Mobile Imaging

I am a Radiographer with 30 years’ experience, leading a team of radiographers delivering the Mobile Plain Film and Theatre Fluoroscopy Imaging service to 33 theatres and 40 wards, including four ITU’s. My patients are at the centre of what I do.

Every day is different, requiring me to simultaneously spin a multitude of plates. Today I start with imaging an acutely unwell ITU patient with head and severe bilateral leg injuries in trauma theatre. The four hour operation requires skill and special accuracy to manage complex imaging using an image intensifier, enabling the surgeon to align and fix the patient’s fractures. During this time I am also answering my bleep; wards requiring urgent mobile plain film chest x-rays on sick patients, theatres requiring unanticipated imaging, other theatres changing the order of their lists and altering the times that imaging is required. The fluctuating demands need constant management and co-ordination of the imaging service, continuous liaising with different services and staff groups – it’s all about excellent communication.

Amongst other tasks: incidents to investigate, equipment requiring fixing, job references, appraisals, audit, bookings to organise, equipment trials, and looking after my work tribe.

It’s challenging, insanely busy, fulfilling and I still love it.

Janet Villars – Sonographer

I have always wanted to work within the medical profession and after spending time in a radiography department at age 16 I knew that this was the career path for me.

Post qualifying, I started rotaring through fluroroscopy, mobile and theatres, general and orthopaedic Xray, with my most favourite in ED Xray. After 3years I specialised in paediatrics which involved neonatal mobile Xrays, MDT meetings, skeletal surveys and educating colleagues in paediatric issues. During this time I also worked in Ugandan and Kenyan hospitals, which was where my love of ultrasound began.

When a training post came up, there was no doubt that I wanted to apply!

I have the privilege of sharing in people’s life experiences, whether it be the joy (or sometimes sadness) of baby scanning, assessing ongoing treatment in patients, including abdominal, gynaecology and fertility specialities.

I enjoy meeting people from different walks of life and putting them at ease whilst trying to find a cause for their symptoms.

I was once told that I’d never regret training in ultrasound and that I really can make a difference to someone’s life and make or break their day. This has never yet proved me wrong!

If you want to join the day on social media, share photos using the hashtags #myradcolleague #WRD2020, and tagging @uhp_nhs on Twitter.