Official opening of the Norwich Radiology Academy

The President of the Royal College of Radiologists, Professor Janet Husband OBE, the chairman of South Norfolk Council, the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff of Norwich will attend the official opening of the Norwich Radiology Academy on Thursday 16 February.

They will be greeted by Dr Erika Denton, the National Diagnostic Imaging Lead and consultant radiologist at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, who will conduct a tour of the new Academy based at the Cotman Centre on the Norwich Research Park.

The Radiology Academy  is one of only three such institutions in the country (the others are in Leeds and Plymouth) that have been specially created to help increase the number of qualified radiologists nationally.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is already leading the way in Radiology (interpreting X-ray, MRI and CT scans) using a computer-based digital imaging system that has done away with X-ray film.

The first 10 trainees have already embarked on a five-year training programme at the new Academy, using state-of-the-art equipment linked electronically to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and to other academic institutions. The trainees are also the first in the country to use fully integrated voice recognition software to report their findings.

Professor Husband commented: “The Royal College of Radiologists has led the development of the Radiology Integrated Training Initiative (R-ITI) over the past three years jointly with the Department of Health (DH), and we are delighted to be involved, together with the Department. in the official launch of the R-ITI academies.

“This initiative offers a genuinely integrated approach, combining modern methods and technology with the highest standard of traditional teaching to create  new ways of training. At a time when there are not enough radiologists in training in the UK to meet the clinical need, this new approach is vital, as it will allow more trainees than ever before to enter the profession.”

Dr Denton said: “The facilities we have here for digital imaging are among the best in Europe and, in tandem with the skills and knowledge of our staff, we are delighted that the Royal College of Radiologists and the Department of Health chose Norwich as home to one of the new Radiology Academies.”

Photo Opportunity
Invited guests will be able to watch a demonstration of the new teaching facilities at the Radiology Academy by consultant radiologists and specialist registrar trainees from 11am at the Cotman Centre, Colney Lane, Norwich (formerly the Institute of Food Research). The demonstration will show how images can be viewed and shared via remote electronic links.

Notes to Editors
1. For further information from the Royal College of Radiologists, please contact the College’s Communications Officer, Dan Garbutt, on 020 7299 1138, or dan_garbutt@rcr.ac.uk

2. The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) has approximately 7,000 members and Fellows worldwide representing the disciplines of clinical oncology and clinical radiology. All members and Fellows of the College are registered medical or dental practitioners.

3. The role of the College is to advance the science and practice of clinical radiology and clinical oncology, further public education and promote study and research through setting professional standards of practice.