The British Medical Ultrasound Society releases the collaborative framework to address Workforce challenges in Ultrasound.
22nd Oct 2026
The British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS), in collaboration with the Society and College of Radiographers (SoR), have released its Sonography Job Planning and Career Mapping Framework to proactively address workforce challenges in ultrasound and bring Sonography into the 21st century.
|
|
|
|
This breakthrough document was produced by a UK-wide working group of lead sonographers led by Pamela Parker (BMUS Workforce Strategy Officer), Gill Harrison (SoR Professional Officer) and Donna Holdcroft (BMUS Professional Officer). Together, the working group built upon the previous collaborative Career Progression Framework (2023) commissioned by Health Education England, and the BMUS Preceptorship and Capability Framework (2022). These resources helped recognise the full value of the sonographer workforce and ensure job plans accurately reflected the diverse activities required to deliver safe, effective, high-quality ultrasound services.
“This document adds to the resources already available by providing departments with clear guidance on implementing job planning for sonographers, supporting career progression and capability development,” says Gill Harrison, Professional Officer for Ultrasound at the Society of Radiographers.
Workforce Challenges in Ultrasound
Workforce challenges in ultrasound have been present for many years and remain difficult to manage. Continuing to provide more capacity at the expense of non-patient-facing activity has failed to outpace the problem.
Equally important is the need to maintain and strengthen a professional identity for sonographers that supports career-long development, from trainee through to consultant-level practice. Such an identity must recognise that safe and effective ultrasound practice extends beyond the performance of examinations alone.
The lack of statutory registration for sonographers presents an additional significant barrier to innovation in sonographer recruitment, retention and career development. Career development to advanced practice levels and beyond is difficult without regulation. The absence of statutory regulation for sonographers has had unintended consequences, putting a significant brake on innovative solutions such as direct undergraduate entry into diagnostic ultrasound and recruitment from overseas.
Solutions for a Sustainable Workforce
It has become clear that a sustainable, resilient and expanding workforce is crucial to supporting the safe and effective delivery of medical ultrasound services. This innovative framework takes a pragmatic approach to addressing these challenges by:
- Outlining how relevant professional bodies can push forward with job planning and career mapping.
- Incorporating necessary duties and clarifying how these essential tasks fit into the day-to-day role of the sonographer.
- Setting out the expected balance of clinical and non-clinical activity at each career level and illustrating how these responsibilities contribute to the delivery, development, and leadership of ultrasound services.
BMUS professional officer Donna Holdcroft shares that “patient safety was at the heart of each contributing sonographer” and contributor who supported the framework development. Ms Holdcroft highlights that the framework “recognises the non-patient and patient facing tasks undertaken at various stages of a sonographer’s career and, additionally, the supervision and support needed to facilitate the transition from newly qualified sonographer through to consultant level. It will be an essential guide for future sonographer workforce planning both at a local and national level.”
Pamela Parker, BMUS workforce strategy Officer and the document's lead author, shares that “This document has been produced to support employers and employees better understand the role and expectations of a sonographer from first post through to senior consultant level practice. It addresses the issues of the graduate sonographer role and what clinical practice looks like for this emerging career level. “
Dr Parker extends her gratitude to the team of authors who worked tirelessly to create the framework: “As with all publications, there has been a team of authors who have provided expert advice and guidance. I extended my thanks to them, and sincere thanks to the collaboration of the Society of Radiographers for their wise counsel and contribution to the development of this document."
 |
The Collaborative Sonography Job Planning and Career Mapping framework can be downloaded Here |
Sources mentioned
BMUS Preceptorship and Capability Development Framework for Sonographers | News | BMUS
Sonographer_Career_Framework_-_Final_v4_March_2023_002.pdf
Ultrasound, Workforce, Job Planning, Sonographer