Ultrasound clinical teaching capacity in England: A scoping exercise

The United Kingdom has a sonographer shortage. Health Education England are working with stakeholders to address these shortages and increase clinical capacity for sonographer education. The aims of this survey were to ascertain current sonographer staffing levels, estimate staffing requirements in five years' time and review current clinical placement capacity.

An on-line survey was used to explore the aims of the study. Questions included current and predicted sonographer staffing requirements and clinical capacity for teaching ultrasound. Free text comments were available for expanding on responses.

Of 72 completed responses the mean sonographer vacancy rate was 2.65 and the predicted number of sonographers needed to provide the service in five years was 4.6. Departments were teaching an average of two sonographers and 2 non-sonographers. A small number of departments had further capacity for sonography student training which was not being utilised for reasons including limited capacity, inadequate staffing levels or competing demands of teaching other health care professionals. Extended working days and weekend training lists were used to increase capacity, along with rolling programmes for teaching sonographers and the use of simulation.

The survey supported previous publications that have shown sonographer shortages in England and this is predicted to increase over the next five years. Departments were teaching a similar number of sonographers as other health care professionals. Many experienced competing demands, which challenged their ability to increase clinical capacity.

Suggestions for increasing capacity are provided to help grow the sonography workforce. With the advent of new sonography programmes the departments with spare capacity could be utilised to support clinical practice for sonography students in need of a placement on a direct entry programme.