Society of Radiographers

In the second decade of the 20th century the number of x-ray workers grew dramatically not least due to the impact of World War I and in post-war Britain the formation of an association of such workers was inevitable. This was hastened by the desire of medical practitioners (radiologists) to secure the ‘ownership’ of x-ray work and leading radiologists at the time approached the Institute of Electrical Engineers for support. As a result the Society of Radiographers was established in 1920 with its first council composed of six radiologists and six electrical engineers, to which were added six selected radiographers from the London area. Not without many controversies over the past 100 years, the Society of Radiographers has become a strong body representing the interests of radiographers and advancing the highest standards of practice in support of their patients.

In 1921, a syllabus was developed and examinations were introduced to facilitate competency checks before membership was granted to new members. Membership began to grow with 67 members in 1921 and 164 in 1923.[9]

It was not long before the society headed straight into troubled times. The medical members with external assistance moved quickly in their attempts to prevent radiographers from reporting on their images. This was to be a crucial step along the road to medical ownership of x-ray work and in their desire to establish consultant posts in radiology. Their standing with other medical consultants was important to their esteem. It was in 1925 after a protracted dispute which involved a number of resolutions being put to council that there was agreement that non-medical members would not report and if they did they would be liable to dismissal from the society. There was opposition to this from some radiographer council members especially Mr Blake but also from the Electrical Engineers representatives. In fact they resigned en-masse including Mr A A Campbell Swinton said to be the first person in the UK to produce a radiograph. After this there followed a long period of medical dominance although this did not prevent the society from growing and working hard for the profession. It was not until the 1970s that Dr Swinburne, a radiologist, from Leeds said it was time for official recognition that radiographers assist in film interpretations. It was another 20 years before the first reporting courses for radiographers were established. By 1997 it was official policy of the College of Radiographers that "reporting by radiographers is not an option. For the future, it is a requirement." Twenty years further on, it can be said reporting by radiographers is embedded within their scope of practice.

The society formed a South African branch in 1930 and established a pattern of branch formation with a local committee management which was propagated in the UK during the 1930s. As a result, the Scottish Radiographic Society which was formed in 1927 became a branch of the society in 1936, the South West Branch in 1937, the North West in 1942, the Midland and the North East in 1943. The first Annual Conference of the Society of Radiographers was in 1947 held at Bath, England.[9]

In June 2015, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) granted accreditation to the processes used by the SCoR in order to generate current clinical guidance for Radiography practice, meaning that the SCoR is NICE accredited.[10][11]

The objectives for which The Society of Radiographers is established are as follows:[12]

• To promote and develop for the public benefit the science and practice of radiography and radiotherapeutic technology and allied subjects;
• To promote, study and research work in radiography and radiotherapeutic technology and allied subjects and to publish the results of all such study and research;
• To further public education therein;
• To protect the honour and interests of persons engaged in the practice of radiography and radiotherapeutic technology and allied subjects including the regulation of relations between such persons and employers and employers’ associations;
• To further all such objects which a trade union may lawfully pursue in accordance with statute.

The college's objectives are directed towards education, research and other activities in support of the science and practice of radiography.

The society and college is led by a council which is made-up of representatives from a number of English regions (Eastern region, London region, Midlands region, North West region, Northern region, South East region, South West region, Yorkshire & North Trent region) and from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.[13] The Council determines the Society's policy and strategic direction in consultation with members and others that have a vested interest. It meets once a month, with the exception of August and December.

The society is a company limited by guarantee and the members of council are company directors registered at Companies House. The college, a registered charity, has its own Board of directors comprising an equal number of members drawn from council and external directors representing the legal, financial and medical fields. They have responsibilities as representatives of the membership and also as directors of the company. Neither council members nor College Board members are paid for their duties but they can claim travelling and other expenses.

The president is elected by the members of council and is inaugurated at the July council meeting each year.[12] There is also a President-elect and a Vice-president, who also serve for one year.

Historically, the college was an awarding body for academic awards but no longer fulfils this function. The degree-equivalent[23] radiography qualification awarded by the CoR was the Diploma of the College of Radiographers (DCR) and this was awarded following a three-year training course and successful completion of a national examination, either in Radiodiagnosis (the DCR(R)) or in Therapy Radiography (the DCR(T)). Following study equivalent to Masters level, students with a DCR could proceed by examination to the Higher Diploma of the College of Radiographers (HDCR). Holders of the HDCR undergoing specialist training in management were awarded the Management Diploma of the College of Radiographers (MDCR) and those undergoing specialist training in the teaching of radiography were awarded the Teaching Diploma of the College of Radiographers (TDCR). The first Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Radiography was validated in 1989 and with the widespread introduction of BSc courses in radiography during 1993, the DCR was phased out. The HRCR, TDCR and MDCR have been replaced by postgraduate level courses.

The college maintains an Accreditation and Approval Board which aims to protect patients of radiographers by raising the standards of education and practice. It does so by monitoring and assessing programmes of both pre-registration degree courses and ongoing professional education ranging from ad-hoc events to professional postgraduate training. The college runs courses and conferences. Various guidances and guidelines are published by the CoR often in conjunction with the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), the British Institute of Radiology (BIR) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

Research grants are awarded by the college. An academic library is maintained. Further activities to promote the public interest includes the provision of advice to the public and to government and government agencies and activities to promote public awareness of radiography, radiology and oncology. Information on the activities of the CoR is published on the website of the UK's Charity Commission.[24]

An example of a SoR banner in a trade union demonstration (2011)

The society has a membership base throughout the United Kingdom. As such, the Trade Union is associated with the Trade Union Congress (TUC)[5] in the United Kingdom and with the Scottish Trade Union Congress (STUC).[6] The organisation was previously associated with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions(ICTU) but it left in 2013 citing financial constraints as the reason.[25] In 2003, before leaving and whilst still in affliction with the ICTU, the society opposed a motion to restrict affiliation of small unions with the ICTU stating that the motion was "about bureaucracy."[26]

The Society of Radiographers Benevolent Fund is a registered charity (No. 326398) and it assists SoR members, former members and their families in times of hardship or distress and in particular the old, the sick and the incapacitated among members and former members. Information on the activities of the Benevolent Fund is published on the website of the UK's Charity Commission.[27]

The SCoR issues a number of publications:[28]

Imaging and Therapy Practice

Imaging and Therapy Practice provides in-depth coverage of the latest professional and educational issues that affect the day-to-day working lives of therapy and diagnostic radiographers. The publication was known as Synergy: Imaging and Therapy Practice up until January 2013. The editor is Melanie Armstrong.

Synergy News

Synergy News is a news digest of what is happening in radiography and the wider healthcare arena. Topics reported include role development and career progression, pay and conditions, research, Continuing Professional Development and health and safety and equality issues. The editor is Jan Metcalf.

Radiography

Radiography is an international, English language, peer-reviewed journal of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy. The editor is Professor Julie Nightingale.

Imaging & Oncology

An annual title published to coincide with the United Kingdom Radiology Congress. The editor is Dr Ruth Strudwick.

The SCoR maintains a number of awards and grants.

• Royal College of Radiologists
• ISRRT

• IIRRT
• Official site
• Catalogue of the SoR archives, held at the Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick