Therapeutic radiography team scoop placement of the year award
St Bartholomew’s service recognised by City, University of London for its outstanding support to undergraduate therapeutic radiography students.
The therapeutic radiography team at St Bartholomew’s Hospital has been awarded Outstanding Placement of the Year by City, University of London’s School of Health Sciences.
The award recognises the support given to first, second and third year undergraduate therapeutic radiography students who undertake their placement at the site as part of their studies.
The outstanding placement category is voted for by students, who are invited to nominate their placement provider based on a range of criteria, including quality and management of patient care, learning opportunities and support.
Every year, around 15 to 20 students come to St Bartholomew’s for their clinical placement.
They also rotate to other sites across the south east and London during their degree, including Southend University Hospital and The Royal Marsden.
The team, who are around 40 strong and based in the basement of KGV at St Bartholomew’s, are specialists in delivering radiation treatment (radiotherapy) to cancer patients.
This includes working with patients to plan their treatment, as well as providing emotional support to patients and their families, at what can be a very difficult period in their lives.
Conor Brown, senior therapeutic radiographer, said: “Therapeutic radiography can be incredibly demanding, so we do all we can to prepare our students, physically, emotionally and technically for a career in the field.”
Professor Charles Knight, Chief Executive of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, said: “This award is recognition for the wonderful teaching in the department.”
Judy Brook, Associate Dean, Partnerships and Placements at City, University of London, said: “We are delighted to acknowledge the strong partnership between City and the Therapeutic radiography team at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.
"Our students benefit hugely from their expertise, support and supervision so we are very pleased to recognise this with the award.”
The team’s focus on learning and development includes weekly tutorials for its students, regular meet-ups to check in on how the group is feeling, and mock interviews with final year undergraduates to prepare them for their first role out of university.
They will officially receive their award at the annual Student and Practice Excellence of the Year Awards ceremony in London on 24 March.
Find out more about cancer services at Barts Health NHS Trust here.