Remedies to address national shortage of Sonographers in the UK!

Sonographers equip hospitals with a diagnostic service through an imaging test, known as ultrasound, which sends vibrations to a part of the body and receives them back again to report the potential unusual behaviour, if exists. Due to the common use of ultrasound to provide images of babies in the womb, most people are aware of its use in pregnancy but ultrasound imaging is not just limited to that. It is widely used in other hospital departments to detect invisible flaws. However, in recent times, UK is facing a nationwide shortage of qualified Sonographers, leading to stern difficulties for several NHS trusts and health care associations in meeting growing demand, designated targets and deliverance of the national obstetric and vascular screening initiatives.
 

Recent national protocols relating to, for instance, stroke management and the post ‘NHS Next Stage Review’ insist on making ultrasound imaging services available for primary care, adding to the shortage problem. Increasing workload pressures on Sonographers mean complex service demands, leading to a barrier for them to tend their personal wellbeing in the workplace effectively and commence continuous professional development activities. These several factors are contributing to an increase in the number of Sonographers taking early retirement, reducing their work hours, or leaving the service completely. Further, the reported incidence of musculo-skeletal injury is growing. Existing Sonographers in development process are hardly synchronised with wastage and there is little scope for more training and professional development programs even though the demand is clear.

To address this problem, here are some suggestions from the society and college of radiographers to develop and acquire consistent sonographer workforce in the UK: 

·         Introducing First Degree Direct Entry

There is much evidence that there is a strong demand for first degree direct entry programme, leading to BSc (Hons) Medical Ultrasound. The establishment of a primary direct entry degree has the prospect to attract a wide range of applicants interested in pursuing a career in sonographic studies. Such programmes would be delivered by existing universities and students may be eligible for scholarships as are diagnostic and therapeutic radiography undergraduates, limiting direct costs to NHS and health boards.

·         Postgraduate Direct Entry

The program is likely to be popular with a wide range of primary degree qualified applicants. The postgraduate direct entry, leading to PGC/PGD/MSc already exist in truth but is under-recognised and under-utilised. Depending on the availability of clinical placements, it has the potential to allow for a number of graduates. These programmes can be endorsed subsequent to established CASE procedures, giving assurance to employers and the active ultrasound workforce.

·         Distance Learning Programme

For delivering both direct entry first degrees and higher degrees to develop the sonography workforce, distance learning programme is a viable option. Some universities have used this feature to deliver education and development options at higher degree level in the past. It will be made essential for the students to have a clinical placement during the course of the program and could be delivered together with more conventional training programmes.

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