The attractiveness of working for the NHS as a radiographer: a review of the literature

The continuing problem of the recruitment and retention of staff in the allied health professions (AHPs) and nursing within the National Health Service (NHS) has been consistently highlighted in the literature over the last ten years (for example: Firby, 1990; Seccombe and Smith, 1996; Abraham et al,. 1999; Buchan, 1999). However, despite this attention, the NHS is still struggling to recruit staff in these areas. Consequently, it is now vital that the NHS is able to identify strategies to change its recruitment patterns and expand its applicant pool. To address this issue a team from the Business School at Loughborough University has been commissioned by the Department of Health to carry out research into the ways in which the NHS is perceived as an employer by potential staff. The project concentrates on radiography, physiotherapy and nursing and the first stage of the research process comprised a comprehensive review of the existing literature with regard to recruitment and retention in these professions. This paper presents a summary and discussion of the findings of this review process with regard to radiography