ULTRASOUND professionals in the UK have launched a manifesto to reduce patient waiting times for diagnosis and treatment, the British Institute of Radiology (BIR) has reported.
NHS trusts are not meeting diagnosis targets and should not be allowed to introduce recruitment freezes, according to a consortium of ultrasound professionals.
Workforce Crisis
Sonography is a cornerstone of cancer diagnosis, with ultrasound scans 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 ultrasound professionals, which has inevitably impacted patient waiting times and speed of treatment, the BIR reported.
These issues are exacerbated by the fact that the majority of trusts have introduced recruitment freezes to save money, according to medical-supplier trade association AXREM, the BIR, the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS), the Institution of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, and the Society of Radiographers.
Sonographers currently have an average vacancy rate of 24%, rising to 40% in some areas.
Medical physics, clinical engineering, and clinical technologist teams also face shortages of up to 40%.
Shortages of radiologists specialising in ultrasound are similarly high, the BIR reported.
Richard Evans, CEO, Society of Radiographers, London, UK, said: “When a person is feeling unwell, their first investigation is often an ultrasound scan.
“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 Collaborative Ultrasound Manifesto
The five societies published the Collaborative Ultrasound Manifesto, outlining steps towards reducing patient waiting times and ensuring 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, protecting 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 concisely
- 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
Dr Peter Cantin, President, BMUS, London, UK, 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.”
Reference
AXREM, British Institute of Radiology, British Medical Ultrasound Society, Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine, Society of Radiographers. Collaborative Ultrasound Manifesto. 2026. Available at: https://www.bir.org.uk/media/566150/axrem_collab_ultrasound_manifesto_v6web.pdf. Last accessed: 2 July 2026.
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