Published on 02 September 2026
Benenden Hospital is proud to support the development of our employees. Having first joined the hospital as a student radiographer on placement, Josh has now returned as a qualified radiographer. Here he shares his career experiences and what makes radiography such a rewarding profession.
How did you get into healthcare, Josh?
"I worked at the NHS 111 service straight after sixth form. After three years there, I decided I needed to do more for patients, so enrolled at Canterbury Christ Church University to study Diagnostic Radiography."
What was it about radiography that ticked the boxes for you?
"I’ve always had an interest in complex machines and, as I had studied photography and IT which I really enjoyed, radiography ticked each of the boxes of things I’d studied and am interested in. It's perfect for me - I count myself very lucky to have found a career that aligns so well with my interests.
"My family were in healthcare. My nan was ward sister at Maidstone Hospital, and my mum was a carer for the county district. So healthcare was always there in the background."
What was your training journey like?
"It was a roller coaster! People say the first year is a doddle - it's not - but it was really during the second year when I started going to the William Harvey Hospital on placement. That’s when I really felt like I was getting into it and noticing that I was completing tasks inherently – that was the light bulb moment, like when a child first learns to run."
How did you find yourself at Benenden Hospital?
"I knew I wanted to work at Benenden Hospital from my first exposure to the hospital during my placement. The building and architecture were amazing. The staff were brilliant, and my experiences with patients were always pleasant.
"I started working here as a Radiography Department Assistant because, although I'd qualified from my university course, I hadn't got my Health and Care Professions Council registration number through yet. But Benenden Hospital helped me to get to that point and, with the support and training provided by the team, I soon progressed to being fully qualified.
"It's a fantastic place to work, and since joining, the staff have been nothing but supportive and understanding with me being new and not always having all the answers.
I've got one of the best managers I've had. In the short time that I’ve been here, I’ve been given all the support I’ve asked for. I’ve never felt like I'm an inconvenience or that I’m asking silly questions."
How does being fully qualified feel?
"It’s so freeing. I've made it - and can look back and be proud of myself!"
What kind of things are you doing now that you couldn’t before?
"I can work independently, autonomously, and play a bigger part of the team. That’s such a big thing for me. I can perform X-rays, become more involved in fluoroscopies, and get to provide live imaging in theatres by taking x-rays using the hospital’s C-arm equipment.
"I've always described radiography as a tree. You start off at the roots as a student, the trunk as a newly qualified, and as time goes on, it branches off in so many places, providing a multitude of avenues to go down as your career progresses."
What would your advice be to someone who is thinking about a role in radiology?
"Do it. Absolutely! If you can, absolutely, do it.
"There are so many other areas you can work towards too, such as MRI, ultrasound, specialist cardiac, emergency medicines and even on the TV I’ve recently seen emergency helicopters in hard-to-reach rural areas with the handheld, backpack x-ray machines and community diagnostics. You really can work anywhere in the world with this degree.
"So often in passing, staff at Benenden Hospital have a smile on their face – everyone seems happy and says hello. There’s a warm atmosphere, and I'm very lucky to be here.
Josh’s manager, Jacqui Farrow, Deputy Imaging Manager, said, “Josh first joined our hospital as a student radiographer on placement and quickly became a valued member of the team. His positive attitude, strong work ethic and willingness to learn helped him build excellent relationships with both colleagues and patients. Towards the end of his third year of training, Josh saw an opportunity to join us as a qualified radiographer and successfully secured the position.
“We are delighted to welcome him back to the department and are confident he will be a tremendous asset to the Imaging team. His enthusiasm, fresh perspective and new ideas will undoubtedly contribute to the continued development of our service, and we look forward to supporting him as he begins his professional career with us.”
Careers at Benenden Hospital
For more information on the radiographer roles currently available at our hospital, visit the careers section of our website.