Qualified HPC registered diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers are to remain on the government's list of national shortage occupations.
The role appears on the June 2008 Home Office Shortage Occupation List. This is a list of jobs in which international recruitment is supported because of a deemed skills shortage.
Where NHS trusts are unable to fill radiography vacancies using UK or EEA trained staff employers can recruit from anywhere in the world.
Warren Town, SoR Industrial relations commented on the announcement, saying: “The fact that diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers continue to on the national shortage occupation list is good news for both qualifying students and service managers.
“Essentially, it means that demand for radiographers continues to out-strip supply and students qualifying this year should have little difficulty in finding posts.
“Equally, service managers trying to maintain their staffing levels to meet referral to treatment and cancer wait targets across the UK will continue to be able to draw on our 'home-grown' pool of radiographers as well as appropriately qualified staff from overseas.
“However we have to remember that there is an ethical recruitment policy operated by the Home Office that is designed to ensure that the UK does not denude a country of home grown skills and knowledge.
“There is however a global shortage for some professions and whilst there is likely to migrationis unlikely to fill gaps in the domestic market and any long term employment under the work permit scheme must adhere to home office policy.”
Download the occupational shortage list.
