A significant part of training and education in the National Health Service (NHS) must be embedded in clinical settings to help ensure that students and trainees can gain practical experience within a great learning environment.

In November, the partnership between AGFA HealthCare and Leeds Teaching Hospitals (LTHT) provided the opportunity to see such facilities being delivered first-hand. Formally opened at St James’ Hospital by Dr Paul Jones (Chief Digital Information Officer) were the Registrar Hub for trainee radiologists (from West Yorkshire) and the Radiography Training Room for radiographers (from the University of Leeds). Paul comments:

“Improving facilities and technology for training, education and clinical networking can only help us provide better patient experience and outcomes, so I was delighted to unveil our new Radiology training suite at St James’ Hospital. These new facilities will provide a modern, comfortable environment to support students gaining clinical experience in Radiology and create an additional space to support team meetings. A big thank you to our AGFA HealthCare colleagues for supporting this work.”

 Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is one of the largest and busiest acute hospital trusts in Europe. The Trust provides healthcare and specialist services for people from the city of Leeds, Yorkshire and the Humber and beyond, and hosts the West Yorkshire Radiology Academy. As part of this initiative, a multidisciplinary seminar room has also been refurbished, ensuring the facilities also help connect clinical and educational teams across Leeds and West Yorkshire.

Helping to open these facilities were Mark Wild, Strategic Account Director and Dr Nick Spencer, Chief Clinical Information Officer at AGFA HealthCare. There was a warmth and enthusiasm from radiography educators and students, as well as the radiologists present.  Dr Spencer adds:

 “Collaboration between AGFA HealthCare and their customers goes deeper than the provision of our Enterprise Imaging solution. Seeing the radiology workforce benefitting from improved facilities as part of a joint initiative is a heart-warming reminder of some of the results delivered through partnership. I hope that trainee radiologists and student radiographers get practical training benefit and can enjoy these facilities for years to come.”

We give our appreciation to Mike Lupton, Megan Nicholson, Hannah Benashour, the radiology management team, Dr Rachel Hyland, Radiologist and Head of School at the Academy, plus other members of the radiology and radiography training team who joined us to welcome this development.