Advanced Practice Radiographer

My Career in Radiography

I provide autonomous neurovascular Computerised Tomography (CT) reporting and the lead the Radiographer Advanced Practice team within CTMUHB.

What does your role involve and what does a typical day/week look like?

With the longstanding shortages of Consultant Radiologists within the UK, suitably qualified Radiographers have successfully advanced their roles and responsibilities to enhance Radiology reporting services. As a team we are extremely lucky in CTMUHB as we have a wide range of Advanced Practitioner Radiographers and Sonographers performing a multitude of roles, from musculoskeletal and chest X-ray interpretation, performing image guided biopsies/injections and being an integral part of teams streamlining patient pathways to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.

One element of my Radiology specialism is Neurovascular CT reporting, which involves me autonomously reporting CT scans of the brain and associated vascular structures within the neck and brain. The great thing is the variety of work that I can report on a weekly basis which keeps me challenged.

One main focus is the timely reporting of Stroke referred patients, ideally these patients need reports within 10 minutes of being scanned, so I’m always on hand to assist here whenever possible so patients can get onward referred for mechanical Thrombectomy treatment

I have an active commitment toward multidisciplinary teaching, often teaching medical students, AHP’s, Radiographers and clinicians with regard to CT Head interpretation. I’ve been lucky enough to teach students in Denmark and Canada about CT Head interpretation, with the UK leading the world with regard to Radiographer Advanced Practice. I am also a visiting lecturer for Birmingham City University (BCU) postgraduate CT Head reporting course. I would love to inspire Radiographers to develop in CT Head reporters, Advanced and Consultant Radiographers of the future so give up time each month to promote this is by being the Chair of the CT Head Reporting Special Interest Group (SIG). The SIG is a free Facebook group for likeminded individuals with an interest in CT interpretation to get together online every month to present cases and have case discussions about CT related pathology.

It is vitally important that Advanced Practice Radiographers attend their relevant specialism Multidisciplinary Team Meetings (MDTM) on a regular basis, so part of my working week is

dedicated to attending the Lung Cancer and Neuroradiology MDT meetings. This gives an invaluable insight into the patient’s management and the role of the clinicians referring to Radiology.

Why did you chose a career in Radiography?

Like many 16yr old teenagers studying A-Levels in 1995-6, I didn’t have a clear idea what I wanted to do with my life. I really enjoyed Science (particularly Biology and Chemistry) and computing in school, I wasn’t a real academic but had particular skills in working with people, I loved being in a multitude of sports teams and I liked the idea of hospital working and helping patients. Thankfully my school gave us the opportunity in 6th form to have several weeks work experience, which I organised myself, to investigate some potential career paths

I liked the idea of going to University and studying a particular degree subject which had a specific, defined job at the end of the course. My ‘fate’ (this was a good thing!) was sealed when I undertook a week’s work experience at Leicester Royal Infirmary Radiology department. I found out quickly that Radiographers undertake a huge range of roles within the hospital and are right at the heart of many patients’ journeys through the hospital.

What is your educational and career background that led you to your current position?

After passing my A-Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Psychology I was able study Radiography, a three year degree level qualification (BSc)

Upon qualification in 2001, I worked in The University Hospital of Wales (UHW), Cardiff for 6 years, finding a particular interest and passion for CT. CT is a challenging environment, with fast paced working and constantly evolving technology. This suited me perfectly, honing my CT skills in UHW before taking up a CT Superintendent role in CTMUHB. This was a big step up for me at the time, only 28yrs old and running my own CT department in Radiology.

In 2009, after 2 years in post, I was supported to undertake a Postgraduate Certificate in CT Head Reporting (Masters level qualification). This qualification was extremely hard work and allowed me to become the first CT Head reporting Radiographer in Wales. Within the UK we have less than 100 actively practicing CT Head reporting Radiographers at present. I was very pleased to achieve Merit, with the Celia Craven Prize for finishing top of my class. Without my Radiologists and Managers support this CT Head reporting development would not have been possible. I am particularly in debt to my Radiologist mentor, Dr Rhian Rhys, whom I will always be grateful to.

I had a brief hiatus from the NHS between 2015-2017, working as a Director of Radiology, BreastCare and Cardiology in a small independent private hospital in South Wales. This enhanced my multidisciplinary people management skills and was a completely different challenge, which I very much embraced and enjoyed.

I was given the opportunity to re-join CTMUHB in 2017 as a full-time Advanced Practitioner Radiographer with a particular emphasis on developing Advanced Practice within the Health Board for Radiographers. Since 2017 we have innovatively developed our Reporting Radiographer service. With the support of Welsh Cancer Network funding, and the support of the Board at CTMUHB we had approval to develop a team of Chest X-ray (CXR) Reporting Radiographers who would go on to successfully help streamline the Radiology element of GP referred patients whom lung cancer may be suspected. Three newly appointed reporting Radiographers and I undertook a postgraduate Chest X-rays reporting qualification in 2019/2020, in a particularly challenging period when the Covid pandemic was upon us. Again we had brilliant support from our Radiologist

colleagues in terms of training us on the job to report CXR’s. This would result in me attaining a Masters in Radiography (MSc, distinction). The aim was for every GP referred to have their CXR reported immediately whilst in the department. If the patient required any further scans (CT scan) we would offer this to the patient on the same day. This same-day reporting and CT scanning removed unnecessary bottlenecks in the patient pathway and ultimately reduced this part of the Lung Single Cancer Pathway by around 85%. CTMUHB has a rich commitment in supporting Radiology staff to complete their Masters once embarking on post-graduate study.

I have gone on to develop my CT Head reporting role in CTMUHB with the support of my mentor Dr Rhys and our NeuroRadiologist Dr Shawn Halpin (since retired from the NHS). We devised an in-house training and mentoring program for me to independently report CT Angiography and Venography of the brain and neck vessels. This demonstrated CTMUHB’s commitment and innovation, given there we no postgraduate study option in Higher Education Institutions to undertake this type of reporting. As far as I am aware, we are the only Health Board in the UK who has a Radiographer reporting Neurovascular CT. This has particularly benefitted the stroke pathway patients, who hopefully get fast and accurate reports to aid their diagnosis and treatment of Stroke.

Recently I have attained a Consultant Radiographer post within CTMUHB which has been the culmination of 22 years of hard work and pushing myself to progress, helped invaluably by my supportive colleagues and CTM as my employer. I feel the Consultant Radiographer role gives my Radiographer colleagues somewhere to aspire to if they stay on a clinical career path. CTM has also invested significantly in Consultant Radiographers in our flagship Snowdrop Breast Centre.

What are your next steps of future career aspirations?

One of my main aims is to develop the role of the Advanced Practitioner Radiographer within the Health Board and nationally within Wales and the UK. This is something I’m passionate about