Review of the sonography workforce
The Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI) review of the sonography workforce has now been published.
Due to a number of factors, the makeup, size and age profile of the workforce is not well known, hence this review represents the most complete picture (up to December 2015) to date.
CfWI was commissioned by the Department of Health and Health Education England (HEE) to carry out the review to support them in providing sufficient ultrasound practitioners across England.
This review was split into 2 phases:
• an ultrasound workforce survey and interviews with a range of stakeholders and acknowledged experts in the field of ultrasound imaging
• further work to model the current and forecast demand for, and supply of, this workforce
Some of the main findings include:
• the majority of core staff providing ultrasound services work in radiology and diagnostic imaging
• diagnostic radiographer is the most common job role
• non-medical staff make up around 83 per cent of the core workforce
• around 80 per cent of the total ultrasound workforce are women; women account for 88 per cent of the non-medical workforce, and 45 per cent of the medical ultrasound workforce
• around 33 per cent of all women who provide ultrasound services are aged 50 plus
Nigel Thomson, Professional Officer for Ultrasound at the Society, commented: “Many sonographers and ultrasound department managers will have responded to the survey that the CfWI conducted on the sonography workforce and the delivery of ultrasound services in 2015.
“This work was commissioned by Health Education England as part of the on-going work to help solve the sonographer shortage. It gives the most complete overview so far published of the complexities of ultrasound service delivery.
“The report is well worth reading for all involved in delivery of ultrasound services.”
Read the report:
Sonography_workforce_review
Foto: The Centre for Workforce Intelligence
