Refreshing the 4 Ps: strengthening partnerships in radiography through lived experience

Submitted by SCoR head of education and research Dr Emma Hyde

The Society and College of Radiographers (SoR/CoR) has begun work to refresh its guiding document Patient, Public and Practitioner Partnerships within Imaging and Radiotherapy, known as the 4 Ps. First published in 2018, the document sets out shared values for person-centred care, showing how patients, the public and practitioners can work together to improve imaging and radiotherapy services, education and research.

Over the next six months, the 4 Ps will undergo its most significant refresh to date. The process will be led by head of education and research Dr Emma Hyde, whose appointment earlier this year brought renewed focus to professional development and patient partnership.

“Since the 4 Ps were first developed, radiography practice has evolved,” said Dr Hyde. “We’ve seen a major shift towards digital transformation, new models of interprofessional working, and a growing emphasis on co-production. This update is about ensuring the document remains relevant to today’s practitioners and meaningful to the patients and communities we serve.”

The refreshed version will retain its core structure, covering service delivery and development, and education and research, but the new edition will go further in showing what ‘good’ looks like in practice. Real examples, drawn from radiographers and patients across the UK, will illustrate how authentic partnerships can enhance both outcomes and experiences.

Crucially, SoR/CoR will make the 4 Ps ‘come to life’ through a series of video and audio case studies featuring voices from clinical, academic and community settings. These will be published alongside the document and made available as open resources through the website and learning platforms.

Dr Hyde stresses that the project will be co-created from the outset. “We’ll be listening closely to members, learners, patients and carers, as well as to those working in education and research. The 4 Ps have always been about shared values – so the update must reflect a truly collective voice.”

The work will also align with national policy developments such as NHS England’s Patient and Public Involvement Framework and HCPC standards on service-user engagement. By embedding person-centred principles across all areas of radiographic practice, SoR/CoR aims to support radiographers in navigating the growing complexity of modern healthcare while staying grounded in compassion, communication and respect.

“The original 4 Ps captured something powerful,” continued Dr Hyde. “They reminded us that every interaction, every scan, every learning opportunity is built on partnership. Revisiting them now gives us the chance to reaffirm those principles for a new generation, and to celebrate the many examples of excellence that already exist in our community.”

The updated guidance will be officially launched at UKIO 2026 in Liverpool, accompanied by a digital showcase of stories and resources that demonstrate person-centred radiography in action.

Read this report on page 18 of the December 2025 issue of RAD Magazine.