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Although Ultrasound examinations form about a quarter of all diagnostic medical imaging procedures, ultrasound education and training has encountered significant challenges in recruiting and retaining sonographers over many decades. The Universities of Cumbria and Salford were successful in being awarded monies to develop a collaborative ultrasound academy. The aim of this is to develop primary training in ultrasound through expanding their direct entry programme, whilst maintaining opportunities for qualified radiographers to move into this modality. The Ultrasound Academy has been able to use the HEE investments to create Ultrasound Skills Hubs at each university. These are being used not only to grow the numbers of new sonographers being educated but also to allow CPD ultrasound training for a variety of professional groups.
The academy consists of the hub simulation facilitates at both universities but also dedicated spoke clinical training facilities within a variety of NHS Trusts and a clinic run at Salford. Together these are able to provide realistic clinical and simulated learning experiences which allow students to learn the complex psychomotor and patient care skills needed to educate sonographers in a safe environment free from many of the pressures of a busy clinical service.
The collaboration between the two universities will ensure resources available for ultrasound education are used both sustainably and effectively across the North West region.
“It has been refreshing and motivating to work together with partners to tackle this very difficult workforce issue. We have been delighted to see that some of the Trusts who have been working with us from the start of the project, now do not have any issues with recruiting sonographers and they are fully staffed. The time and efforts they have made to train and grow their own sonographer workforce are showing a significant payback for them.”
Charles Sloane (University of Cumbria)
and Claire Mercer (University of Salford).
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