18 November 2011
Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals recently marked World Radiography Day (8 November 2011) with a week of events celebrating the contribution of radiography to the world of medicine. This included recognising those clinicians who work in the field and provide radiography services to patients on a daily basis.
World Radiography Day commemorates the date in 1895 when German physicist Wilhelm Röntgen first produced and discovered the electromagnetic radiation wavelength commonly known as an x-ray. Today, radiographers use a range of equipment to both detect internal injuries and illnesses and treat such diseases as leukaemia and lymphoma.
On Wednesday (9 November 2011), St Helier's restaurant played host to members of staff from the radiology department, with diners being given the opportunity to learn about careers in radiography and to play radiography-related games.
Event organiser and superintendant radiographer Jo Moon said: "We used World Radiography Day to raise awareness of radiography and to promote it as a profession, and it went very well - we were kept busy the whole time!
"Lots of people had a go at identifying the various fractures and other afflictions on 'Skeletor' (a composite skeleton made out of x-ray images), and there was genuine interest in radiography as a career from many of our visitors."
Later in the week, Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins marked the occasion by taking a tour of the radiography department. He said: "I was really impressed with what I saw. The teamwork and collaborative spirit within the department is instantly apparent to visitors, which has led to a very forward-looking ethos. It is pleasing to see that, from top to bottom, the department constantly strives for continual improvement.
Matthew added: "I started my career as a nurse in the NHS and have worked with dozens, if not hundreds, of radiographers and other radiography staff. I think it is a really interesting specialty of medicine and I would encourage anyone who is interested in it as a career to give it serious consideration."
