A NNUH staff member has taken up her dream role of becoming a Consultant Radiographer after being sponsored through a Master’s Degree by the N&N Hospitals Charity.

Louise Cooper was working as a Diagnostic Radiographer in the Breast Imaging unit when she began her Master’s Degree in Breast Evaluation.

She passed her course with Distinction which trained her to report mammograms, perform breast ultrasound, carry out clinical examinations and undertake biopsies under stereotactic and ultrasound control.

Louise, who officially graduated last month, said: “Without the charity’s help and support I would never have been able to achieve this. My training has allowed me to work autonomously in clinics, enabling me to contribute to the ever-increasing workload in Breast Imaging.

“Having another trained consultant increases the department’s appointment capacity reducing patient waiting times and patient anxiety and I hope that my training will lead to a quicker diagnosis and treatment for some of our patients.”

Louise has completed a research project for her dissertation which she hopes to get published, and as part of the new role will continue undertaking research projects to make positive contributions to both the department and breast research in general.

She said: “I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to complete my post-graduate degree, I have been supported by an excellent team throughout my training and feel very lucky to work with such wonderful people.

“The patients are always at the centre of our care and I hope my training will make a difference to the patients I care for. I can’t thank the charity enough for this opportunity.”

Dr Arne Juette, NNUH Director of Breast Screening, said: “One really big difference this has made is that Lou will now be able to work as a consultant radiographer, thus helping the unit to providing excellent and more timely care to our patients.”

To find out more about the N&N Hospitals Charity and our ongoing appeals, please visit the Charity’s website https://nnhospitalscharity.org.uk/

If you would like to support the N&N Hospitals Charity, contact us at fundraising@nnuh.nhs.uk