Introduction is continually promoted and maintained at all levels. Beneficial aspects of this
There is now an increasing amount of literature about what constitutes consultant Major shifts are raising the profile of consultant radiographers across the profession; raising
practice in radiography, and the debates that surround implementation of a ‘4-tier’ the profile of the radiographic profession across the broader healthcare team;
staffing model in radiotherapy. This article aims to bring together external and in the way promoting links with other professional bodies and national forums; providing
personal perspectives of consultant radiographic practice within oncology services a communication link and advice resource for members; and providing a link
in the United Kingdom (UK). radiotherapy with the Society and College of Radiographers’ research group to assist in
progressing research into practice
9
.
The UK National Health Service (NHS) is one of the largest organisations in the delivery is
world, with ever increasing demands and expectations of its employees and A question that seems to be in many minds is: ‘what does a consultant therapeutic
patients
1
. Recent years have seen improvements in patients’ experience of care, organised need radiographer do?’ It is stressed that consultant practitioners do not exist to simply
but more must be done to empower patients through their cancer journey
2
. A substitute for medical colleagues when needed, or to be purely responsible for a
major driver in cancer service developments is the delivery of a personalised to occur specific patient caseload. The changing face of radiotherapy and healthcare as a
service for people with cancer
3
. Historically, research into cancer has tended to whole demands roles to be much more diverse than that. Essentially, the nature
focus on the clinical aspects, albeit essential, of causation and treatment rather of consultant radiographic practice in radiotherapy has many manifestations and
than the processes of care in general, or healthcare professionals’ patterns of possibilities, advantageous to most clinical settings. It has been stated that a
working in particular
4
. In the UK, considerable work has taken place and is ongoing consultant radiographer is not beholden to a consultant oncologist but will create
to determine the future of cancer service provision. Areas under scrutiny are partnerships with a vast range of clinicians including medical and non-medical
prevention, diagnostics, treatment and care continuation, as well as the changes consultants
10
.
required within the UK cancer workforce.
Diversity of roles is essential to meet the demands of increasingly diverse UK
The main instigating factor for setting up new roles and ways of working was, oncology services. It is encouraging to see this diversity in the small number of
undoubtedly, the NHS Plan and the NHS Cancer Plan published in 2000. A key consultant therapeutic radiographer posts that have been established to date in
driver for the introduction of consultant radiographic posts was the need to retain the UK. These include:
clinical expertise and professional leadership in the NHS, a growing need to palliative radiotherapy for patients within the lung cancer pathway;
improve career prospects, to properly recognise and reward new and expanding a Macmillan post encompassing complete pathway care for gynaecological
roles and, most importantly, develop new ways of working to improve patient patients;
care
5
. Major shifts in the way radiotherapy delivery is organised need to occur, and an oncology service improvement/modernisation post responsible for
new ways of working need to be introduced to bring about more efficient working radiotherapy technique and technical developments;
systems and practices
6
. a consultant practitioner specialising in neuro-oncology and developing
radiographer led pathways; and,
Consultant therapeutic radiography practice – another radiotherapy service development post with an additional specialism of
the UK scene
working with the head and neck team.
The title of consultant allied health professional (AHP) or therapy consultant
was introduced in 2001 and supported by Department of Health guidance
7
. These brief descriptions cannot possibly demonstrate the impact that each post
Kelly et al reported 31 consultant radiographer posts in the UK
8
, and two brings to their respective centres but, undoubtedly, all have been instrumental in
consultant trainee posts towards the end of 2008. Five of these consultant bringing improvements to patient pathway experiences and outcomes, as well as
posts are in radiotherapy and oncology services, with one of the trainee oncology service developments.
posts also in radiotherapy and oncology. The numbers speak for themselves
and warrant further investigation into therapeutic radiography consultant The National Radiotherapy Advisory Group (NRAG) report
11
, published in 2007,
practice provision at national level. Constituted in 2006, the UK consultant has, at least potentially, improved the prospect for the creation of further
radiographer group ‘provides leadership in the development of and support consultant radiographer posts within radiotherapy and oncology, and general role
for the consultant radiographer role’. The group meet biannually and sets key development opportunities are increasing. The NRAG report recognises the impact
objectives and yearly targets to ensure that consultant practice in radiography of consultant roles in post as follows:
2009
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IMAGING & ONCOLOGY
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