Radiographers welcome return of Assembly

The Society of Radiographers (SoR) has welcomed the return of the Assembly to Stormont. 

Cora Regan, Northern Ireland national officer for the Society of Radiographers, said: "The Society of Radiographers welcomes the return of the Northern Ireland assembly to Stormont.  

"We are relieved that this will mean that the UK Treasury releases funding to increase public-sector pay in Northern Ireland. Implementing a fair deal for all public-sector workers must be a priority for the new assembly. 

"However, this year’s pay is not a long-term measure. Radiography in Northern Ireland is a workforce in crisis, and this crisis needs to be addressed urgently and fully. 

"Radiography professionals support nine out of 10 patients in Health and Social Care Northern Ireland. They work in diagnostic services, carrying out X-rays, MRI and CT scans, and in therapeutic services, planning and delivering radiotherapy to cancer patients. But levels of pay that have fallen behind other parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland mean that too few radiographers are being recruited – and many are leaving to work elsewhere," said Ms Regan.

In January, the SoR went on strike to highlight the fact that radiographers in the North were paid less than those in all other parts of Britain - including in England, where members have also been striking for salary increases.  

According to Cora Regan, in Scotland, radiographers are now paid 12 per cent more than in the North.

She added: "The pressure to increase working hours, coupled with low pay, means that many radiography professionals are leaving Northern Ireland – or the profession itself – and they are not being replaced in adequate numbers. 

"As a result, 188,850 people in Northern Ireland – nearly 10 per cent of the population – are now waiting for a diagnostic test. This wait means that treatment such as radiotherapy is delayed and cases become more complex – and, for some patients, even a two-week delay can mean the difference between life and death.

"However, we now hope we will have a functioning assembly that will stabilise our health and social-care services and deliver a fair pay offer that enables recruitment and retention of our vital staff. 

"The Society of Radiographers looks forward to working with incoming ministers to address the current issues and to establish a programme for government that delivers for our members – and for their patients. Our members deserve better. Our patients deserve better.