Bonus Episode: Donna Hughes and Carol Scott - Equipment Managed Services in the UK
Trigger Warning: this episode discusses cancer, diagnostic imaging and cancer treatment.
Bonus Episode in paid partnership with Ergéa.
Description: In this episode, Naman Julka-Anderson and Jo McNamara sit down with Donna Hughes and Carol Scott.
Donna is an experienced therapeutic radiographer with a long and varied career in radiotherapy practice and service development. She currently works for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as the Lead Radiographer for the radiotherapy satellite centre in Milton Keynes, supporting the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care. Donna trained in England and spent the first half of her career working in Ireland before returning to the UK. Her clinical experience includes roles in neuro-oncology and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), as well as contributing to the implementation of an MR Linac service in the private sector. She is particularly passionate about patient care and the people she works alongside.
Carol is a senior therapeutic radiographer and Radiotherapy Services Manager at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She has extensive experience in radiotherapy service leadership, advanced radiotherapy technologies and stereotactic radiotherapy, and has held senior clinical leadership roles including Deputy Clinical Director for Oncology. Carol has played a key role in the development of innovative radiotherapy services at Oxford, including stereotactic and image-guided radiotherapy, and has contributed to radiotherapy development and commissioning at a national level through NHS England.
We discuss how the role of a managed equipment service supports staff by freeing up clinical time, supporting with recruitment and retention of staff, as well as sustainability and future proofing digital solutions.
CPD Reflection Points:
- Reflect on how the current management and maintenance of radiotherapy or diagnostic equipment affects your department’s efficiency, staff experience, and patient care. Identify one area where a managed equipment service could reduce downtime, delays, or administrative burden. What impact could this have on staff morale, workload, and the patient experience?
- Consider how reliable, modern and well-maintained equipment could influence recruitment and retention within your service. Reflect on whether access to contemporary technology, effective technical support and a well-functioning working environment could make your department more attractive to current and prospective staff. What changes could help demonstrate that your organisation is investing in its workforce?
- Reflect on the potential of managed equipment services to future-proof radiotherapy and diagnostic services. Consider how planned replacement, proactive maintenance, training and access to technical expertise could support staff to work confidently with evolving technology. How could this contribute to workforce development, job satisfaction and the delivery of safe, timely and high-quality patient care?
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Credits: Music and jingle credits: Dr. Ben Potts and Adam Cooke.
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