I am sympathetic to the points you have raised. I also worked in the UK as a radiographer and couldn't help noticing the difference in radiographic practices and cultures between the UK and Australia. I don't believe it is necessarily a question of which practice is correct. The health systems, financing, organisational structures, medical cultures and traditions are different. Importantly, I don't think the practices are always evidence-based or even rational. They are often based on history, tradition and/or idiosyncrasy. I try to take a balanced view- there are occasionally supine AXRs that I would find easier to report with the correct emphasis and/or with additional confidence when there is an erect view in the series. Similarly, there are CXRs that I could report with greater confidence when a lateral view is included. I also get the impression that some of the ED doctors who interpret these images themselves after-hours have extremely limited image interpretation skills (not their fault). The surgeons also appear to be variable in their requirements- some will insist on an erect abdominal film before seeing the patient and others won't even look at the erect abdominal film when it has been performed. Frustrating- sure is!

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