The Paediatric Special Interest Radiographers from South Eastern Trust, Northern Ireland have scooped the Society’s prestigious UK Team of the Year Award.
Joanne Clayton, who nominated the team, said: “The team has worked hard to put the best interest of the child at the forefront of imaging practice and have addressed many of the recommendations from professional bodies for the improvement of imaging services for children and young people.”
The team are: Alyson Lattimer (quality development co-ordinator and team lead) and paediatric specialist radiographers Shirley Parke, Lindsey Fleming and Ruth Livingston. The team also draws upon the knowledge and expertise of several multi-disciplinary partners, including Dr Joanna Turner, consultant radiologist; a play specialist, child protection nurse specialists, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children (RBHSC), and the Quality and Effectiveness Department at Ulster Hospital.
When the team came together two years ago, it set out with several clear aims:
• Create a more child-centred environment, which takes into account children’s needs;
• Improve good practice to enhance the existing x-ray service provided for children;
• Establish a link with radiology in RBHSC in order to benchmark existing good practice;
• Consult with children to obtain their views on the service, thereby adhering to the UK government’s patient focus/public involvement agenda;
• Seek guidance from the Association of Paediatric Radiographers (AFR) for the improvement of imaging services for children.
Since then, the team’s impressive list of achievements – too long to list here in full – is testament to their dedication, focus, creativity, professionalism and genuine commitment to providing children with excellent care.
Among their many accomplishments, they have developed a Children’s Charter for the service; introduced new training in safeguarding children which addresses current legislation, ensuring that within a year all radiography staff had received training; made facilities, equipment and the environment more child-friendly; developed books, posters and leaflets for children and their parents/guardians; and introduced specially-designed stickers to reward children post-examination.
Joanne continues: “Their work is ongoing, they continue to meet on a regular basis and are constantly striving to improve or update what they have already put in place.”
All of the winners of the SoR Team of the Year 2008 Awards – which are sponsored by Fujifilm – will be presented with their awards and prizes at a ceremony at the House of Commons on Thursday 12 November.
