Clinical Directors Network
Aims
- Provide opportunities for regular liaison between the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and radiology clinical directors across the four nations.
- Develop a professional community of practice for those responsible for the day to day running of clinical radiology services.
Webinars
Unlocking financial support
A webinar on securing funding from executives to expand your service. Chaired by Dr Robin Proctor, Medical Director for Professional Practice, The Royal College of Radiologists, Robin was joined by Dr Amrish Mehta (Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust), David Botha (Executive Director, Business and Resources, RCR) and Yazmin Roberts (University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust) who shared their perspectives and valuable insights into this important topic.
Job planning
Dr Raman Uberoi, Medical Director for Professional Practice, hosted a webinar on Job Planning together with a Q&A session with Dr Stephen Harden, Vice President for Clinical Radiology, The Royal College of Radiologists. Highlights of key points and data were also shared from the recent RCR Census.
Managing underperforming colleagues
Dr Ashley Shaw, Medical Director at Cambridge University Hospitals discusses how he approaches these issues, along with his team in Cambridge, from the minor to the major cases. Managing colleagues can be a difficult and often stressful experience for leaders at all levels.
Implementation of iRefer in practice
Dr James Diss PhD FRCR, Consultant Radiologist, shares his experience of implementing iRefer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, London. After the presentation, there was an open forum to ask questions about how to overcome practical and process challenges in relation to iRefer implementation.
Writing a business case for Clinical Directors
Chaired by Dr Raman Uberoi, Medical Director for Professional Practice, The Royal College of Radiologists. Led by Stephen Griffiths, Radiology Services Projects Manager, Mid and South Essex University Hospitals Group, Basildon University Hospital.
The Clinical Directors Day, held on Thursday 13 March 2025, brought together radiology leaders for a day of insightful discussions and networking. The event featured sessions on key topics such as creating a happy department, supporting specialty and specialist colleagues, influencing the future of radiology, training the future workforce, and demonstrating the value of consultant radiologists. Notable speakers such as Dr Alex Barnacle, Dr Fiona Miller, Dr Helen Adley, Dr Priya Suresh, Dr Stephen Harden and RCR President Dr Katharine Halliday shared their expertise.
They highlighted the urgent need to address the radiology workforce shortage, with projections of a shortfall of 3,670 consultant radiologists by 2028. Attendees recognised the importance of expanding training opportunities and providing flexible retirement options to retain senior radiologists, learning about pension flexibility schemes, “Retire & Return” and partial retirement, which can all be effective to retain valuable expertise.
Dr Stephen Harden (RCR Vice President and President Elect) emphasised that radiologists contribute far more than just image reporting - they lead multidisciplinary teams, guide training and manage patient pathways. Dr Michael Jackson’s presentation on sustainability underscored the need for radiology to reduce the carbon footprint of healthcare by optimising imaging practices, including energy use and travel.
The event concluded with a strong call to action: prioritising workforce expansion, valuing the full contributions of consultants, integrating sustainability efforts and leveraging AI to support, not replace, radiologists. Delegates praised the relevance of the topics covered and the valuable networking opportunities provided. As Clinical Directors, attendees are now charged with using this insight and RCR Census data to advocate for necessary changes at local and national levels, ensuring the future of radiology relies on their leadership and continued collaboration.
Thank you to everyone who was able to join us for the event. We hope you found the day both insightful and valuable. If you have any suggestions for topics to be covered at future Clinical Directors events, please reach out to [email protected].
Dr Raman Uberoi's overview of the previous Clinical Directors Day in March 2024 can be read here.
