Why did you choose to do a graduate scheme with Alliance Medical? 

I knew during my final year that I wanted to specialise in CT, but knew that if you wish to do this in the NHS you have to “earn your stripes” and it can take a few years to get the opportunity to progress. I attended a careers fair at my university (Salford) and was impressed by Alliance Medical. It struck me as a company that was prepared to invest in staff and encouraged progression. I then attended a taster day at a mobile site, and from there applied and was successful. At the time I did apply for jobs in the NHS also and had a look at other private providers, but Alliance was the one that stood out for me.

Tell us about your journey with Alliance Medical – where did you start, where are you now?

I started as a graduate CT (mobile) radiographer in training shifts, with an allocated mentor. Now 2 years later, I am a senior CT Radiographer! I have trained to scan on 3 different platforms (GE, Canon & Siemens) and I’m comfortable building and adapting protocols on them all. I am trained in IV cannulation, ILS trained, a Radiation Protection Supervisor, a mentor, and a site lead for the Nightingale hospital in Harrogate. It has been an exciting two years!

How has Alliance Medical supported you throughout your career so far?

They have been extremely supportive of me so far and have encouraged me to progress at every opportunity. I have had excellent support from managers, fellow graduates, and my colleagues. It is a demanding and busy job, and you must put the work in, the training file provided was very concise and my mentors supported me during my first 6-12 months with my assessments. I was signed out as CT lead after 5 months and gained my Senior post after 15 months in employment. Alliance Medical have supported me with various in-house courses and an external angiography training course. The management team are always available and approachable if you have any concerns.

Do you have the opportunity to move in different directions within Alliance Medical or gain experience in a range of areas?

The plan initially was for me to start my MRI training in April this year, however due to the Covid-19 pandemic the business had to adapt accordingly especially in supporting NHSE with delivery of CT services. This opened another door for me and gave me the opportunity to take on a site lead role at the Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate which has been hard work, but extremely insightful to see what is involved in setting up a service.

There are always opportunities to get involved in, if you are willing, for example I have helped with providing a review of a proposal for a new CT pocket guide companion book due to be published which our Head of CT clinical services is co-author. I have also become involved in image quality audits and attended careers fairs. As I have family in Ireland I may move over there in the future and so I have been exploring the possibility of transferring over to Alliance Medical Ireland, which is not something that you would be able to do with a lot of other companies.

What values do Alliance Medical have that you appreciate?

The biggest value I appreciate is openness and transparency. Alliance encourage staff to communicate openly and honestly if they have any concerns to ensure a safe and secure environment for staff and patients. I also feel they are extremely patient focused as a company whilst also being supportive with staff.