Advanced Practice in Radiotherapy and Oncology: an interview with Angela Eddy, MSc, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for the MSc Advancing Practice in Radiotherapy and Oncology at Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK

Abstract

This is the first in a series of JRP interviews with individuals who have and are recognised for an expert knowledge in their subject area in radiotherapy and oncology.

Images and images: Current roles of therapeutic radiographers

“…8,41 Especially with the increasing need for patients requiring radiotherapy and a shortfall in the TR workforce. 2,3,9 MRIgRT may not be seen as a priority in UK centres given the demand on resources in conjunction with the inconsistent planning and dosimetry experience of TRs. 41,42 As the main planning activity was VS and the uptake in other modalities is low (Fig.…”

“…Therapeutic radiography is a small profession 1 and has struggled with recruitment, retention, and recognition. 2,3,4,5 The increasing demand on the National Health Service (NHS), 2,6,7 increased advanced techniques required for radiotherapy, 8,9 alongside a shortage and/or availability of key radiotherapy multi-disciplinary team members (MDT) 2,10,11 has exacerbated the situation. Therapeutic Radiographers (TRs) play a pivotal role within radiotherapy and, to maintain efficient radiotherapy delivery, 2,8,12,13 have adapted roles in response to advanced techniques.…”

“…2,3,4,5 The increasing demand on the National Health Service (NHS), 2,6,7 increased advanced techniques required for radiotherapy, 8,9 alongside a shortage and/or availability of key radiotherapy multi-disciplinary team members (MDT) 2,10,11 has exacerbated the situation. Therapeutic Radiographers (TRs) play a pivotal role within radiotherapy and, to maintain efficient radiotherapy delivery, 2,8,12,13 have adapted roles in response to advanced techniques. Such as soft-tissue image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), 14,15,16 stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) 17 as well as non-treatment delivery activities such as site-specialist 18,19 and treatment-review TRs.…”

“…Such as soft-tissue image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), 14,15,16 stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) 17 as well as non-treatment delivery activities such as site-specialist 18,19 and treatment-review TRs. 2,20,21 Many of these roles fall under advanced clinical practice (ACP), 'a level of practice characterized by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making', 22 which also could be applied to on-line adaptive Magnetic Resonance Image-guided radiotherapy (MRIgRT). The new tasks and skills of TRs daily acquiring MRIs, re-contouring, and re-planning to compensate for intra-and inter-fraction anatomical changes, using motion management techniques and/or biological targeting, and assessing the quality of a plan for a fraction within a course of radiotherapy treatment all offers the potential for ACP.…”

“…23 However, role extension is needed because many required skills are not routinely taught at undergraduate level. 2,10,24 In some MRIgRT settings, TRs are already performing roles that were previously the remit of other MDT members to streamline the workflows and facilitate easier implementation. 24,25,26,27,28 In other MRIgRT centres, the number of treatment sites are increasing due to the success and tolerability of the pathway.…”