The recruitment and retention of therapy radiographers

Abstract

As the UK population ages, the incidence of cancer is increasing (Office for National Statistics, 2006). The National Health Service (NHS) Cancer Action Team has stated the provision of further radiotherapy services is needed to support increased demand, and satellite centres are planned to be operational by 2016 (Department of Health (DH), 2000a); however this increase in provision will exacerbate the existing national shortage of therapy radiographers. The problem cannot be easily solved by increasing the commissioning places for student therapy radiographers, as there are significant recruitment and retention issues to address first. Therapeutic radiographer training commissions increased from 135 in 1997 to 361 in 2005 (DH, 2007); however attrition rates prove that the provisions are not being effectively used.