- Celebrating radiographers and imaging teams on World Radiography Day
- Thousands of scans and examinations delivered annually to support patient care and diagnosis
- Trust is shining a spotlight on skills and expertise of radiographers ahead of 8 November
Bolton NHS Foundation Trust is celebrating the exceptional contribution of its radiography workforce as part of World Radiography Day (8 November), recognising the vital role radiographers play in diagnosing, treating and supporting thousands of patients every year.
World Radiography Day marks the anniversary of Wilhelm Roentgen’s discovery of X-radiation in 1895 and provides an opportunity to highlight the impact of imaging services on modern healthcare.
Throughout the week, the Trust is shining a spotlight on the skilled professionals working across radiography and imaging services who help clinicians make life-saving decisions and deliver high-quality patient care.
From emergency care and cancer diagnosis to pregnancy scans and specialist treatments, the Trust’s radiography teams support patients at every stage of their healthcare journey, with more than 80% of patients seen by imaging teams.
Reporting Radiographers
The Trust’s Reporting Radiographer team has reported more than 63,000 projectional radiography examinations this year alone, supporting services including the Emergency Department through its Radiographer-Led Discharge programme and contributing to bowel cancer screening through specialist CT colonoscopy reporting.
Breast Imaging Unit
Meanwhile, the Breast Imaging Unit screens around 33,000 women every year through the NHS Breast Screening Programme and provides a comprehensive range of symptomatic and specialist services. The team also sees approximately 110 symptomatic patients each week through a one-stop service designed to provide timely assessment, imaging and biopsy where required.
X-ray
Radiology services continue to play a key role in delivering diagnostic and interventional care across the Trust. Between January 2025 and March 2026, the X-ray department carried out 1,173 interventional procedures, while almost 50,000 X-ray examinations were performed between April and August 2026. More than 93% of X-ray referrals from the Emergency Department were managed within the service, helping support rapid diagnosis and treatment.
Ultrasound
The Trust’s ultrasound teams also provide vital services across a wide range of specialties. Non-obstetric ultrasound supports around 1,400 referrals each month, while obstetric ultrasound teams manage approximately 5,000 referrals every month, helping to monitor the health and wellbeing of mothers and babies throughout pregnancy.
MRI
Across MRI services, two scanners operate seven days a week, supporting urgent inpatient care, cancer pathways and outpatient services. Over the last year, MRI teams scanned 21,616 patients, providing compassionate care and high-quality imaging to support the diagnosis and management of cancer and other serious conditions.
CT
The Trust’s CT department delivers a 24-hour, seven-day service and performed an impressive 36,842 scans during 2025, including more than 14,000 scans for patients attending the Emergency Department. The team provides specialist imaging for trauma, stroke, cardiac conditions and cancer care, helping clinicians make timely decisions when every minute matters.
Nuclear Medicine
Specialist imaging extends into Nuclear Medicine, where teams support a wide range of clinical pathways including oncology, cardiology, endocrinology, surgery, orthopaedics and urology. Using functional imaging techniques, the service helps clinicians assess how organs and systems are working to guide diagnosis and treatment.
PACS
Behind the scenes, the Trust’s PACS team ensures the complex digital infrastructure that underpins medical imaging operates safely and efficiently. Supporting 75 reporting workstations and having integrated 82 pieces of imaging equipment into the network, the team plays a critical role in ensuring images and reports are available whenever and wherever they are needed.
James Mawrey, Chief People Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“Our radiographers make an extraordinary difference to the lives of patients in Bolton every single day. Whether they are supporting someone through a cancer diagnosis, carrying out emergency imaging that helps clinicians make life-saving decisions, monitoring the health of an unborn baby or working behind the scenes to ensure our imaging systems run smoothly, their expertise is vital to the care we provide.”
“Our radiography teams combine advanced technical skills with compassion, professionalism and a commitment to excellence. We are so proud to recognise their contribution and thank them for the role they play in delivering safe, timely and high-quality care for our communities.”
As Bolton NHS Foundation Trust marks World Radiography Day, the organisation is celebrating the dedication, expertise and innovation of its radiography workforce
