ESTRO 2026 - Abstract Book PART II

S2820

RTT - RTT education, training, and advanced practice

ESTRO 2026

legacy practitioners into advanced roles. 2,3 European benchmarking highlighted similar workforce pressures: widespread shortages of RTTs, inconsistent role recognition across countries, variable regulatory requirements, and limited structured training or career pathways. Collectively, the findings suggest that while the framework provides a robust foundation, successful European implementation will require targeted strategies to address contextual differences, workforce constraints, and professional governance. Conclusion: The early UK implementation of a multiprofessional advanced practice framework in oncology demonstrates feasibility and acceptability, offering an opportunity to support coherent educational and career pathways. Its adaptability suggests potential for wider European adoption.Future work will focus on cross-border pilots and collaborative networks, providing a scalable model for harmonising advanced practice education and governance across European oncology services. Keywords: RT workforce Role development Clinical 1.Oliveira, C., Barbosa, B., Couto, J. G., Bravo, I., Hughes, C., McFadden, S., ... & McNair, H. A. (2023). Advanced practice roles amongst therapeutic radiographers/radiation therapists: a European survey. Radiography, 29(2), 261-273. 2. Clarkson, M., McDonald, F., Khine, R. (2024) A local evaluation of the non-surgical oncology advanced practice curriculum framework. International Journal of Advancing Practice. Vol.2. No 4.3. Clarkson, M., Khine, R., McDonald, F. (2025) A training framework for multi- professional advanced level practice in non-surgical oncology: The journey through development and consultation to consensus. Radiography. Vol 31, Iss 1, 281-289. Implementation of an RTT-led workflow for prostate GTV delineation at the MR-Linac E. N. de Groot - van Breugel, L. T.C. Meijers, G. J. Schimmel - de Kogel, J. C.J. de Boer, J. R.N. van der Voort van Zyp Radiation Oncology Department, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands Purpose/Objective: Radiation Therapist-led (RTT-led) workflows are becoming increasingly common in the online adaptive radiotherapy setting, driven by the growing expertise of RTTs and the need to improve workflow efficiency. At our department MR-Linac prostate treatments that governance References: Proffered Paper 1331

Digital Poster 1308

Shaping the Future of the Radiation Therapy Workforce: Collaborative Development of Advanced Practice Education and Training. Melanie Clarkson AHP, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, United Kingdom Purpose/Objective: Workforce innovation for radiation therapists (RTTs) is crucial to support career progression, retention, and the delivery of sustainable oncology services. Across Europe, there is growing interest in advanced practice roles, underpinned by structured education, training, and governance.1 While NHS England has endorsed a multiprofessional framework for advanced practice, inclusive of advanced practice RTTs and radiation therapy, for publication in 2026. Evidence on its feasibility and adaptability across Europe remains limited. This study explored the feasibility, enablers, and challenges of adapting this framework to diverse A multi-stage, mixed-methods approach was adopted:Qualitative evaluation: Semi-structured interviews with RTTs, oncology clinicians, and managers across multiple NHS Trusts explored perceptions, role understanding, and local governance structures. Data were analysed thematically.2National Delphi consultation: A single round online Delphi survey engaged RTTs, advanced practitioners, and multidisciplinary stakeholders to achieve consensus on competencies within the framework.3Patient and caregiver involvement: Surveys and focus groups assessed perceptions of advanced practice roles and the educational and training requirements for the role.The data was thematically analysed.Iterative feedback from each stage informed successive framework versions, ensuring practical relevance and professional acceptability.European benchmarking: The framework was compared against ESTRO RTTC recommendations, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, EU4Health workforce analyses, and other European academic reports to assess transferability and alignment with policy and professional standards. Results: European contexts. Material/Methods: The framework's development revealed ongoing issues, including unclear advanced practice roles, varied governance, and vague educational pathways. Enablers included aligning with the NHS Multi- professional Framework, the Education and Career Framework for Radiographers, clear scope definitions, and uniform practice expectations. Challenges persisted, such as limited supervision, integrating academic and clinical elements, and transitioning

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