Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This article outlines the radiographer workforce and staffing recommendations developed by the European Commission-funded EU-REST (European Union Radiation, Education, Staffing and Training) project. Focusing on radiographers in medical imaging, nuclear medicine, and radiotherapy, the project identified gaps in workforce planning across EU member states. Evidence-based guidelines to harmonise radiographer staffing levels and improve safety and quality in medical settings are proposed. A structured, workload-based approach for radiographer staffing using the World Health Organization's Workload Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) method, offering a comprehensive framework to optimise workforce planning, is outlined. The study emphasises the critical role of radiographers, who are increasingly involved in advanced and extended roles, driven by technological advancements, demographic changes, and evolving healthcare demands. However, challenges in defining workforce requirements persist due to the lack of standardised methodologies, leading to fragmented staffing guidelines. National registries to track workforce data and the recognition of emerging roles for radiographers, such as clinical research radiographers, academics, and advanced practitioners, are also recommended. By addressing these emerging needs and incorporating them into workforce planning, the study aims to enhance professional development and improve patient outcomes across EU member states. General recommendations for all professional groups include the maintenance of a central registry for each professional group and for relevant equipment by each EU Member State. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The radiographer workforce/staffing guidelines and recommendations developed by the EU-REST project propose a standardised approach to calculate radiographer staffing levels and provide recommendations regarding new and emerging professional roles and the need for centralised workforce data registries. KEY POINTS: Limited data is available to facilitate comprehensive radiographer workforce planning across Europe. A structured, workload-based approach for radiographer staffing using the World Health Organization's Workload Indicators of Staffing Need method is proposed. Improved data will support workforce planning and the appropriate recognition and utilisation of emerging and advanced professional roles.
Source: Insights into Imaging
Authors: Jonathan P. McNulty, Francis Zarb, Adrian P. Brady, Boris Brkljačić, Christian Loewe, Mary Coffey, Dimitris Visvikis, Yavuz Anacak, Cristina Garibaldi, Monika Hierath, Martina Szucsich, François Jamar, Núria Jornet, Pedro C. Lara, Michelle Leech, Graciano Paulo, Csilla Pesznyak, Irene Polycarpou, Roberto M. Sánchez, Francis Zarb, the European Federation of Radiographer Societies, the European Society of Radiology
Institutions: University College Dublin, University of Malta, University College Cork, University of Zagreb, University Hospital Dubrava, Medical University of Vienna, St. James's Hospital, Inserm, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Ege University, European Institute of Oncology, European Society of Radiology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Hospital de Sant Pau, Universidad Fernando Pessoa Canarias, Trinity College Dublin, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Centro de Investigação em Saúde e Tecnologia, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, National Institute of Oncology, European University Cyprus, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Hospital Clínico San Carlos
Language: English
Subfield: Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,290
Award: G8056142865
OpenAlex ID: W4415837367