ULTRASOUND PROFESSIONALS LAUNCH MANIFESTO TO REDUCE PATIENT WAITING TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

8th Jun 2026

NHS trusts that are not meeting their targets for diagnosing patients should not be allowed to introduce recruitment freezes, according to a consortium of ultrasound professionals. 

Sonography is used not only in antenatal medicine, but is also a cornerstone of cancer diagnosis. Ultrasound scans are used to check areas including the liver, kidneys and spleen, as well as for endometrial and ovarian cancer and for tumours in the breast, neck, prostate and testes.  

There are chronic shortages of all ultrasound professionals. Inevitably, this has an impact on patient waiting times and the speed with which they are able to receive treatment – problems that are exacerbated because the majority of trusts have introduced recruitment freezes to save money, according to medical-supplier trade association AXREM, the British Institute of Radiology, the British Medical Ultrasound Society, the Institution of Physics and Engineering in Medicine and the Society of Radiographers. 

Sonographers – the specialists who carry out ultrasound scans – currently have an average vacancy rate of 24 per cent, rising to 40 per cent in some areas. Medical physics, clinical engineering and clinical technologist teams, who ensure equipment safety, optimise image quality and research safe ways to innovate, also face shortages of up to 40 per cent. Shortages of radiologists specialising in ultrasound are similarly high. 

“When a person is feeling unwell, their first investigation is often an ultrasound scan,” says Richard Evans, CEO of the Society of Radiographers. “If sonography is the starting point for cancer diagnosis, it will be extremely hard to reduce cancer waiting times with the current workforce shortfall. 

“This is why it’s vital that trusts that are not meeting their targets for diagnosis should not be allowed to introduce recruitment freezes in their imaging departments.” 

The consortium is also calling for the introduction of statutory regulation for sonographers. The SoR and BMUS have previously highlighted that this is essential in order to protect pregnant women and cancer patients from being given erroneous – or even life-endangering – information by unqualified practitioners. 

In addition, it wants to see all ultrasound equipment put through mandatory electrical safety testing and planned preventative maintenance.  This reduces the risk of misdiagnosis and helps to identify faulty equipment before faults affect the images produced. Equipment must be cleaned and sterilised in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions and national safety guidance, to reduce risk of infection. 

The five organisations will today publish the Collaborative Ultrasound Manifesto. This manifesto outlines what needs to be done in order to reduce patient waiting times and ensure that patients receive the best possible treatment and care.  

It calls on national decision-makers, professional bodies and healthcare organisations to work together to:  

• Stabilise and expand the ultrasound workforce through statutory regulation, protected training capacity and national workforce planning. 

• Invest in lifelong skills development. 

• Embed robust asset management, clinical audit and quality-assurance systems. 

• Adopt innovation safely and consistently. 

• Provide stable, multi-year funding to underpin training, quality assurance and equipment replacement. 

• Deliver a unified national ultrasound strategy that reduces variation and improves outcomes across the UK. 

Mr Evans says: “Without an explicit plan for recruitment and retention of ultrasound professionals, too many patients will continue to wait too long for their diagnosis.  

“We need a credible workforce plan from the government – and we’re still waiting for one to materialise.”  

Claire Angus, BIR CEO, said “Behind every delayed ultrasound scan is a patient waiting for answers. When services are already under strain, restricting recruitment risks embedding delays and widening variation in patient outcomes. We need a whole-system approach that prioritises sustainable workforce growth, quality assurance and long-term investment.” 

Dr Peter Cantin, president of BMUS, said: “Ultrasound is central to timely diagnosis, safe care and better outcomes for patients across the UK. But services cannot meet growing demand without a sustainable workforce, appropriate regulation and continued investment in training, equipment and quality assurance.  

“This manifesto sets out the practical steps needed to strengthen ultrasound services, reduce delays and support patients to get the answers and treatment they need quickly.” 

Sally Edgington, AXREM CEO said: “The Collaborative Ultrasound Manifesto highlights what industry has been signalling for years: without a stable, well‑supported ultrasound workforce and properly maintained equipment, diagnostic backlogs will continue to grow. Recruitment freezes in trusts already missing diagnostic targets are counterproductive and ultimately harm patients. 

“From an industry perspective, sonographers, radiologists, medical physics and clinical engineering teams are all critical to delivering safe, high‑quality imaging. Chronic shortages across these professions, combined with ageing equipment and inconsistent asset‑management practices, create real risks for diagnostic accuracy and service resilience. 

“We strongly support the call for statutory regulation of sonographers, protected training capacity and a national plan that links workforce, equipment replacement and quality assurance. A unified ultrasound strategy is essential if we are to reduce variation, improve outcomes and ensure patients receive timely, reliable diagnosis. AXREM stands ready to work with partners to make this happen.” 

Gill Collinson, chief executive of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), said: "Behind every ultrasound scan is a scientific and technical infrastructure that helps ensure patients receive safe, accurate and reliable care. Medical physicists, clinical engineers and clinical technologists play a vital role in quality assurance, equipment safety and the safe adoption of innovation.  

“As demand for ultrasound continues to grow, investment in this expertise is essential to maintaining high-quality services and improving patient outcomes.” 

The Collaborative Ultrasound Manifesto can be found ONLINE LINK HERE