This information is designed to give you a brief introduction to the Directorate of Clinical Radiology at Ashford and St Peter's.
The Trust is formed from two Acute District General Hospitals (about 10 miles apart) with a 650 bed total capacity.
Our main facilities at the Trust include:
- CT
- MRI
- Intravenous Urogram
- Mammography and Breast Ultrasound
- Fluoroscopy
- Interventional Suite
- Ultrasound
- Bone Density Unit
Ashford and St. Peter’s Directorate of Clinical Radiology comprises approximately 110 staff members, including a wide variety of Healthcare Professionals and business staff. i.e. Radiologists, Radiographers, Nurses, Radiography Assistants, Medical Secretaries and Clerical Assistants supporting an activity of 150,000 patient examinations a year
Team members have the scope to gain experience in all areas of Radiology within the Directorate. These include CT, Ultrasound and Nuclear Medicine. There are training opportunities for professional development in areas, such as, Certificate of Competency in Mammography, Postgraduate Diploma in Nuclear Medicine, Ultrasound or Appendicular and Axial Reporting.
We have given non-professional staff the support to undertake a 4 year part time BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography. Other staff have access to a Lifelong Learning Account. We are also a clinical placement for student radiographers undertaking the BSc in Diagnostic Radiography at Kingston University.
We have developed a successful Return to Work Programme that has enabled career break radiographers to make a smooth transition back into the work environment.
Over the last three years the Directorate has received major capital investment resulting in the acquisition of the latest equipment. This includes multi-slice CT scanners in both hospitals, mobile image intensifiers with DSA facilities, digital spot film radiography systems and new ultrasound equipment. In the latest development, we have replaced 2 Fluoroscopy rooms with ’state of the art’ digital C-arm equipment.
We offer fast track promotion for radiographers to Senior II grade. This is based on competency and an individually tailored development plan. There is a structured development plan for suitably motivated Senior II radiographers to progress to Senior I grade.
We are currently looking at the Agenda for Change and in particular the 4-Tier Structure with a view to training Assistant Practitioners, creating Practitioner, Advanced Practitioner and where possible, Consultant Radiographer posts.
Both Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals are easily accessed by car (junctions 13 and 11 of the M25), being situated just a few miles south-west of London’s Heathrow Airport. Both sites are also well served by public transport.
