The National Imaging Academy Wales in Pencoed officially opened on Monday.

ITV reports the £3.4m facility will train the next generation of radiologists, radiographers, sonographers and imaging professionals. It has been created to meet the demand gap for the imaging workforce as well as help address the rising demand and expectations of imaging services.

The first fourteen trainees began their five year training programme in August 2018 when the academy first opened its doors. Nearly all of radiology trainees spend time at the academy.

D Phillip Wardle Academy Director & Consultant Radiologist at Cwm Taf UHB, said “The Academy seeks to address the issues that continue to affect the imaging workforce. The National Imaging Academy Wales is the result of many years of hard work from colleagues across NHS Wales and we are delighted that it will provide a more sustainable imaging workforce well into the future. It is already becoming a hub for diagnostic imaging in Wales as a site for collaborative work and as a research centre. Having sufficient diagnostic imaging is vital within our NHS and involves a highly skilled workforce, including doctors and radiographers, diagnosing, monitoring and treating conditions and injuries using images such as x-rays, CT or MRI scans but unfortunately it’s a service under enormous strain. The Academy will help address some of those pressures and will build on the successful training schemes delivered here in Wales. We are already a hub for collaboration, innovation and research with many meetings and projects being hosted at the Academy site. It’s an exciting organisation to be involved in and it’s fantastic to see so much enthusiasm from all involved to bring this Academy to where we are. NHS Wales have a training facility for diagnostic imaging to be proud of.”