JENNY Sword qualified as a radiographer in 1972 and has worked at Salisbury District Hospital (SDH) ever since apart from a six-year break while having children.

She said: “I chose to do radiography because it involved the combination of doing something worthwhile with the technical challenge of producing high quality images in order to assist diagnosis.

"While there is academic study required to be a radiographer, you really need to be empathetic, because you are working closely with patients.

"You must enjoy meeting people, be a good communicator, have the ability to learn and adapt your skills to new technology, be calm and adaptable - if you suddenly experience a failure in the equipment, you need to know very quickly how to deal with the situation.”

Training to be a radiographer is degree level at university. Students need to have three A-levels at grade C or above with at least one science.

Once students have applied for a university place, but before they attend an interview, they need to have arranged work experience in a hospital. SDH offers three days of work experience, organised through voluntary services.

Each university course varies, but core subjects include communication skills, digital imaging, anatomy, imaging techniques, patient care, radiation physics and research methods.

Clinical placements of between eight weeks and 14 weeks run alongside academic study.

Once qualified, students graduate and become a state registered radiographer. Career development continues post-graduation.

For more details on a career in radiography visit sor.org