A NEWLY qualified radiographer has marked a historic moment at Tameside Hospital.
Tania Waqar has fulfilled her dream of becoming a Diagnostic Radiographer, after completing an apprenticeship she started in 2022.
The 31-year-old is the first Allied Health Professional (AHP) to have qualified via the apprenticeship route at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust – which runs the Ashton-based hospital.
Tania, who joined as an Assistant Practitioner, developed her academic knowledge, skills and clinical experience by undertaking a short bridging course before embarking on the 18-month Diagnostic Radiographer apprenticeship.
She combined on-the-job experience with additional lectures and was put to the challenge through a series of practical and written assessments.
After passing those tests, Tania is now awaiting her professional registration so that she can begin practising.
She says it “feels amazing” to be fully qualified, having trained towards becoming a radiographer since 2018.
“I am so grateful to the Radiology department for their support on the final step of my journey and allowing me to gain the experience I needed across lots of different areas.
“I hope this proves you can successfully take a less traditional route towards becoming fully qualified.”
AHPs, which represents 14 professions such as physiotherapists and podiatrists, are the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS, accounting for more than 185,000 roles nationally.
To tackle vacancies at Tameside Hospital, the Radiology team turned to apprenticeships and Tania is the first of three recruited as apprentices in 2022 to become fully qualified.
Keiron Sidebottom, Education and Training Lead in Radiology, said: “The Radiology department has been committed to growing its workforce and has innovated the way we teach and develop our own staff.
“The apprenticeship programme has been a success and we are celebrating the hard work and dedication that Tania has shown through working in the department and completing her degree.”