Society of Radiographers

UK trade union

The Society of Radiographers (SoR) is a professional body and trade union that represents more than 90 percent of the diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers in the United Kingdom. The College of Radiographers (CoR) is a charitable subsidiary of the Society, they are collectively known as the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR). It was founded in 1920 in an effort to provide standardised training and registration for Radiographers within the British Isles. Until 1996, the SoR was also the professional body and trades union for radiographers in Ireland whereupon the Irish Institute of Radiography and Radiation Therapy was established. Membership began to grow with 67 members in 1921 and 164 in 1923.

The patron of the Society and College of Radiographers is The Rt Hon Llinos "Llin" Golding, Baroness Golding of Newcastle under Lyme who is a Labour Party politician and former MP who sits in the House of Lords and who previously practiced as a radiographer.

Historically, the college was an awarding body for academic awards but no longer fulfils this function. The degree equivalent radiography qualification awarded by the CoR was the Diploma of the College of Radiographers (DCR) and this was awarded following a three year training course and successful completion of a national examination, either in Radiodiagnosis (the DCR(R)) or in Therapy Radiography (the DCR(T)). Following study equivalent to Masters level, students with a DCR could proceed by examination to the Higher Diploma of the College of Radiographers (HDCR). Holders of the HDCR undergoing specialist training in management were awarded the Management Diploma of the College of Radiographers (MDCR) and those undergoing specialist training in the teaching of radiography were awarded the Teaching Diploma of the College of Radiographers (TDCR). The first Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Radiography was validated in 1989 and with the widespread introduction of BSc courses in radiography during 1993, the DCR was phased out. The HRCR, TDCR and MDCR have been replaced by postgraduate level courses. The college maintains an Accreditation and Approval Board which aims to protect patients of radiographers by raising the standards of education and practice. It does so by monitoring and assessing programmes of both pre registration degree courses and ongoing professional education ranging from ad hoc events to professional postgraduate training. The college runs courses and conferences. Various guidances and guidelines are published by the CoR often in conjunction with the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), the British Institute of Radiology (BIR) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). Research grants are awarded by the college. An academic library is maintained. Further activities to promote the public interest includes the provision of advice to the public and to government and government agencies and activities to promote public awareness of radiography, radiology and oncology. Information on the activities of the CoR is published on the website of the UK's Charity Commission.

The society has a membership base throughout the United Kingdom. As such, the Trade Union is associated with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) In 2003, before leaving and whilst still in affliction with the ICTU, the society opposed a motion to restrict affiliation of small unions with the ICTU stating that the motion was "about bureaucracy."

The Society of Radiographers Benevolent Fund is a registered charity (No. 326398) and it assists SoR members, former members and their families in times of hardship or distress and in particular the old, the sick and the incapacitated among members and former members. Information on the activities of the Benevolent Fund is published on the website of the UK's Charity Commission.

The SCoR maintains a number of awards and grants.

The Fellowship of the College of Radiographers (FCR) is an honorary title, bestowed upon individuals who have made significant contribution to the radiographic profession. It was first awarded, in its present format, in 1978 following the establishment of The College of Radiographers as the charitable subsidiary of The Society of Radiographers. Additionally, the individual receives complimentary life membership of The Society of Radiographers.

The Gold Medal is the highest award the Society may award and is only granted to individuals who have "who have made exceptional contributions to radiography, developed the profession and advanced the Society and College of Radiographers." Fewer than 20 gold medals have ever been awarded.

The Silver Medal was first struck in 1985 and is awarded by The Society of Radiographers to recognise and acknowledge individuals for outstanding dedication and contribution to the profession of Radiography. Nominees must be members of the Society of Radiographers (or retired from active service and membership), or non members who are outstanding contributors to the profession. Their work may span any aspect of the imaging and therapy modalities and/or the wider spheres of commerce, industry and management; as such overseas nominees are also eligible. Notable recipients include Stewart Whiteley

Alan Nichols was a chief technical adviser to the Department of Radiology at Oxford Hospitals and since 1996, an award in his name has been given for the best paper proffered by a radiographer at the Radiology Congress. A representative of the Mr Nichols's family is invited to present the award. The Alan Nichols Memorial Award is currently £100.

This award, commemorating Beth Whittaker, has been awarded to the best poster presentation at the Annual Radiology Conference. The Beth Whittaker Award is currently £50.

The Forder Memorial Award, which commemorates the memory of Mr A O Forder, founder member of the SoR in 1920 and a member of the first council of the society. From 1995, it was agreed that it would be presented to the best paper proffered by a student at the Annual Students Conference. The winning student is awarded the prize of £50.

The College of Radiographers Overseas Placement Fund was established in 1998. It is managed by the College of Radiographers Board of Trustees and a number of radiography placements in developing countries have been supported by the fund. A number of individual radiographers have taken an interest in this area and this has often resulted in periods of working overseas.