The Society and College of Radiographers Strategic Framework for Radiography – our vision for our profession

Submitted by Richard Evans, CEO, SoR/CoR.

Radiography is at the heart of modern healthcare. From diagnostics to life-saving treatments, radiography professionals play a vital role in ensuring patients receive the highest standard of care. For over a century, the society has represented the profession, advocating for more than 33,000 members and working to uphold standards, influence policy and promote best practice. Our charitable subsidiary, the College of Radiographers, plays a crucial role in advancing education, research and professional development. Together, we ensure radiography remains central to the future of healthcare.

As chief executive of the Society and College of Radiographers (SoR/CoR), I am proud to introduce Vision for Our Profession: A Strategic Framework for Radiography 2024-27. This strategy is our commitment to supporting the profession, shaping policy and championing excellence across clinical imaging and radiotherapy. It is designed to ensure radiographers, educators, researchers and service leaders are equipped to thrive in an evolving healthcare landscape.

The challenges we face today are unprecedented. Advances in imaging technology, AI integration, workforce shortages and increasing demands on the NHS mean that radiographers, like many healthcare professionals, must balance innovation with everyday service pressures. Our strategy directly responds to these challenges, focusing on four key areas:

• Empowering members – strengthening professional recognition, career development, workplace union representation and wellbeing support.
• Nurturing talent – enhancing recruitment, retention and training to grow a highly skilled workforce.
• Advocating for exceptional care – championing evidence-based practice, innovation and patient-centred approaches.
• Sustaining the profession – shaping policy, influencing decision makers and fostering collaboration across healthcare.

Underpinning this strategy is a firm commitment to our values: integrity, advocacy, openness, courtesy and equity. These principles guide everything we do, ensuring that radiographers feel valued, supported and empowered to contribute to high quality patient care.

Beyond the radiography workforce, this strategy has implications for the wider healthcare sector. Radiologists, physicists, oncologists, educators, researchers and industry leaders all play a role in the future of imaging and radiotherapy. Collaboration across disciplines is key to improving service delivery, driving innovation and ensuring patients continue to benefit from the highest standards of care.

This is a pivotal moment for our profession, and I encourage all stakeholders to engage with this strategy. Together, we can ensure that radiography continues to lead the way in transforming care, advancing technology and improving patient outcomes. I am confident that this strategy will not only strengthen our profession but also ensure that radiography remains central to the health of the nation.

Lead picture: Charlotte Beardsmore CBE and Richard Evans OBE of The Society of Radiographers.

This news story has been sponsored by the companies concerned and does not represent the views or opinions of RAD Magazine.