Pictured: (l-r) Kirsty Corsar and Daniel Leach.

As we all respond to the changes in our lives during the Covid-19 pandemic, departments across NHS Highland have changed how they work to support the organisation as it responds to Covid-19.

Therapeutic Radiographers at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, who specialise in the planning and delivery of radiotherapy, have agreed to extend their scope of practice during the pandemic to assist the Radiology team.

Daniel Leach, Pre-Treatment Team lead within Radiotherapy, has worked with Kirsty Corsar, CT Lead from Radiology, to develop training for the CT competent Therapeutic Radiographers meaning that as well as using the CT scanner for radiotherapy planning scans they can also perform diagnostic CT scans.

Daniel said:

“Diagnostic and Therapeutic CT radiographers work in completely different ways.

“Thanks to supervision and training from Kirsty we were able to perform the first batch of diagnostic CT scans last month.

“Including me we now have two in Therapeutic Radiotherapy, competent and entitled meaning we can work independently and train other Therapeutic Radiographers.

“It has been a great learning experience for me and my team and we feel enthusiastic about helping out during the current situation.”

Kirsty Corsar, CT Lead and Cross-Sectional Radiographer for NHS Highland, said:

“Diagnostic CT Radiographers are working extremely hard, adopting changes of practice and working patterns in order to provide a robust scanning service in response to Covid19.

“It has been great to collaborate with Radiotherapy to set up additional service in these challenging times.

“This change has involved input across many professions including Medical Physicists, Radiologists, Oncologists and Equipment Manufacturers.

“The assistance from the Radiotherapy department is a welcome help to our Outpatient CT scanning service.”