Several Radiotherapy UK Ambassadors presented at the recent Annual Delegates Conference in April, sharing important messages for radiography professionals. Here, they share some of their reflections and the far-reaching impact for cancer patients.
James Barber – we cannot risk neutrality
I am a Pre-Treatment Superintendent Therapeutic Radiographer at the Royal Free Hospital, in London. I also chair the SoR (Society of Radiographers) LGBTQI+ Equalise Network and the Radiotherapy Pre-Treatment Special Interest Group, I am a member of the Radiotherapy Advisory Group (RAG), the UK SABR Consortium Technical Advisory Group and the Rad Chat Advisory Group, and I am a proud Radiotherapy UK Ambassador.
Tell us about your presentation
2026 was my fifth year as the Equalise Delegate Lead to the SoR ADC (Annual Delegates Conference), where I presented a motion on proactive leadership on Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB). This was a motion calling on the SoR to shift their focus on real-world DEIB issues and become more proactive in addressing upcoming threats to protected characteristic groups, within radiography and healthcare but also beyond in the wider societal setting.
What was the most important message you wanted to share?
I wanted to get across to those listening that the events of recent years have demonstrated a clear pattern of societal degradation with regard to DEIB concerns, with increasing threats on protected characteristic groups freedoms, protections and acknowledgements under the law, which previous generations have fought hard for.
The motion I put forward had near unanimous support which I hope will drive a vocal and forward-thinking approach to DEIB concerns. This is a time where we cannot risk the safety of neutrality and must instead stand up and fight for the values of DEIB, which the SoR has held at its core for so long, which was shown by the SoR CEO Richard Evans speaking to support this motion in his last ADC before his retirement.
What was your experience of the conference?
One of the most rewarding things about being a delegate lead is supporting your new delegates through the process of navigating conferences and delivering an impassioned speech on a topic which they care about! That being said, I don’t think I will ever not be anxious before getting up to speak on a topic I am passionate about. While the conference is a lot of work to prepare for as a delegate lead, I always come away feeling that the SoR’s membership has had the opportunity to use its voice and make a difference in the organisation, both as a trade union and a professional body.
Kate Knapp-Tabbernor – education equals safety
I’m a therapeutic radiographer currently working across two roles – as a Regional Radiotherapy Practice Educator with the East Midlands Radiotherapy Network and as Allied Health Professional Preceptorship Lead with The Hillingdon Hospitals NHSFT. I’m also a member of the Society of Radiographer’s Radiotherapy Advisory Group (RAG) and am a very proud Ambassador for Radiotherapy UK.
Tell us about your presentation
I volunteered (somewhat last minute – the day before!) to second Motion 56: Practice Educator Provision. We were basically calling for the SoR’s UK Council to advocate for dedicated practice educator roles in every single department, and for dedicated, ring-fenced time for them to carry out these roles.
In radiotherapy, our technology and techniques move and evolve at pace. I wanted to make it clear that having a dedicated person to oversee training isn’t a nice to have, but is the foundation of a safe, modern service.
Why does this matter for patients?
My main goal was to highlight that education equals safety. When we invest in protected time for staff development, we are directly improving patient experience. A radiographer who is supported and developed is a radiographer who provides the highest standard of care to our patients, works safely, and feels valued and confident in their role. We can’t expect our workforce to lead the way in cancer care if they are forced to “squeeze” their learning into gaps between treating patients.
What was your experience of the conference?
One of the most interesting moments was when a delegate opposed the motion, arguing that because their department didn’t take students, they didn’t need a practice educator.
It created a real moment in the room. It allowed us to respond to the opposition with the vital point: practice educators aren’t just there for undergraduates. We are there for the whole workforce. Whether it’s supporting an apprentice, helping a senior colleague master a new technique, or guiding a newly qualified radiographer through their first few months, education is what keeps our “leaky bucket” of retention from emptying.
Any final reflections?
I was SO nervous beforehand, having spent hours in my hotel room the night before tweaking my speech. But as soon as I introduced myself and said, “This is my first ADC” and hearing the applause from the room changed everything. I felt confident in my knowledge and experience and spoke from the heart which I could tell resonated with the other delegates in the room.
I wish someone had asked me more about how we can standardise this role. Right now, it’s such a varied picture department to department. It would have been great to be able to share how I’m approaching my regional practice educator role and standardising training across a region as I think the model itself is very scalable and really helps support the local practice educators to deliver high quality education and training.
My first ADC was a real whirlwind of catching up with colleagues, a very late-night strategy session, and finding my voice. If you’ve ever thought about getting involved, do it next year! Our profession – and our patients – need our voices.
Fiona Bond – the impact of vacancy delays
I’m a Brachytherapy and QMS Team Lead at the Royal Devon university healthcare trust.
Attending this year’s Annual Delegates Conference was an opportunity to represent not only my region in the South West, but also the growing concerns of radiographers and healthcare professionals across the NHS who are feeling the impact of workforce shortages every day.
Conference is always a reminder of the power of collective voice; bringing professionals together from across the country to highlight the challenges facing our services and push for meaningful change.
Tell us about your presentation
This year, I had the opportunity to speak on Motion 23, addressing an issue increasingly affecting NHS departments: the delayed approval and advertisement of vacant posts.
At first glance, vacancy controls may seem like an administrative or financial issue. NHS organisations are under immense pressure, with funding failing to keep pace with inflation and trusts facing rising costs in staffing, energy, and clinical supplies. In response, many have introduced recruitment freezes, stricter vacancy controls, or lengthy approval processes for new and replacement posts.
But behind those decisions are real consequences for staff, services, and ultimately patients.
Across radiography departments, where recruitment and retention challenges are already well documented, these delays are worsening workforce shortages. Posts can remain stuck in approval systems for months—or not be approved at all—leaving teams unable to recruit into essential roles.
What was the most important message you wanted to share?
In my own trust, we currently have several vacant posts alongside existing and upcoming maternity leave within our senior workforce. We have been told that maternity cover will not be approved. Unfortunately, this is not unique to us; it reflects a wider trend that many colleagues are experiencing across the country.
The operational impact is immediate and measurable. Reduced staffing means reduced service capacity, increased waiting times, and underutilisation of valuable equipment. In our department, one of our three linear accelerators is currently operating at reduced capacity simply because we do not have enough staff to run it fully.
For existing teams, the burden grows heavier. Staff are expected to absorb the gaps; covering vacancies, managing increased workloads, and maintaining high standards of care under mounting pressure. Over time, this affects morale, wellbeing, and retention, creating a damaging cycle where staffing pressures only worsen.
What was your experience of the conference?
What struck me most after speaking at conference was how many delegates approached me to say, “We’re seeing exactly the same.” It reinforced that this is not an isolated issue; it is a systemic one.
Vacancy delays may be framed as a short-term financial solution, but they carry long-term risks for service sustainability, workforce stability, and patient outcomes. This is not simply about workforce planning – it is about patient safety.
Being able to raise this issue at ADC was both empowering and necessary. By sharing our experiences and speaking collectively, we can highlight frontline realities and push for changes that protect both staff and patients.
Learn more about our Ambassadors’ Network (here)