The U.K. Society of Radiographers (SoR) is working to support the official registration of nuclear medicine technologists.
The society is joining forces with the British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS) and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine IPEM), it said in a 23 June statement.
The SoR explained that, despite significant clinical responsibilities and roles in radiation safety, nuclear medicine technologists are not statutorily regulated in the U.K., unlike Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)-registered radiographers. Nuclear medicine technologists can apply to be on the Register of Clinical Technologists (RCT), but this is voluntary, it said, and "voluntary registers do not foster consistency in professional standards as many technologists opt not to participate."
Only around 50% of clinical technologists register with the RCT, according to the IPEM, which noted that "half of the U.K.'s clinical technologists are therefore able to practice unregistered, even though their work can involve serious risk to patient safety and wellbeing."
In a letter to the government, the SoR, the BNMS, and the IPEM emphasized that "mandating statutory registration for technologists in nuclear medicine is essential to address these risks and uphold patient and staff safety."
"Regulation would ensure all clinical technologists meet uniform standards, have consistency in training, competence and ethical standards and protect patients from harm by preventing unqualified individuals from performing high-risk procedures," the SoR wrote.
