Impact and Cost-effectiveness of Consultant Radiographer Posts

The Scope of Practice 2008 project recommended that the College of Radiographers commission an independent evaluation of the impact of implementation of consultant, advanced practitioner and assistant practitioner roles, in order to assess the cost benefits of introduction of these new radiography grades. The Society and College of Radiographers commissioned a Phase 1 pilot study with IES to identify issues around the introduction and of consultant posts and their immediate impact on clinical imaging in England. The aims of the project were to: *evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of consultant radiographer posts on clinical imaging services in England to inform future workforce role redesign decisions. *explore and identify the extent to which core functions are being assimilated into consultant roles. *identify and investigate factors that promote and encourage the establishment of consultant posts and/or deter their establishment. Outcomes from the study include recommendations to assist SCoR in considering the requirement for, and basis of, a larger evaluation study embracing clinical imaging and radiotherapy across the UK. Research by Dr Richard Price, Head of Health and Emergency Professions at the University of Hertfordshire, and Dr Linda Miller, Senior Research Fellow at IES.