Impact of prospective departmental visit on career choice in radiotherapy

In line with the recommendations from Society College of Radiographer’s (SCoR) on improving student attrition in Radiotherapy(1), prospective students applying at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) are required to attend a visit to Radiotherapy. It is particularly important to address the poor attrition rate of student radiographers, to ensure workforce delivery is maintained with increasing service provision over the next few years(2). To ensure the quality and consistency of departmental visits, Weston Park Liaison Team in partnership with SHU evaluated the prospective student’s experiences, with a view to identify areas for development. During the departmental visit, the prospective student is assessed by the clinical staff as to whether they deem the applicant suitable for a career in Radiotherapy. Although the visit is to assess their suitability, primarily the visit is to ensure that they fully appreciate the role of a Therapeutic Radiographer and the environment in which they would be trained in. This experience will also help them in their early stages of academic training.