In a collaborative ultrasound manifesto, a consortium of U.K. ultrasound professionals has called for statutory regulation for sonographers, mandatory ultrasound equipment preventive maintenance, and restrictions on NHS recruitment freezes.
The manifesto, published during the 2026 U.K. Imaging and Oncology Congress (UKIO), highlighted long wait times for pregnant women and cancer patients. NHS trusts not meeting their targets for diagnosis should not be allowed to introduce recruitment freezes in their imaging departments, according to the consortium, which includes the British Institute of Radiology (BIR), British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS), Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), the U.K. Society of Radiographers (SoR), and the medical-supplier trade association AXREM.
The document also highlighted inadequate equipment management, recommending greater accountability, as well as electrical safety testing for ultrasound equipment and planned preventive maintenance to prevent misdiagnoses from faulty equipment. It also calls for ultrasound cleaning and sterilization in accordance with manufacturers’ instructions and national safety guidance.
Demand for diagnostic ultrasound examinations continues to rise by approximately 5.9% per year, outpacing workforce growth, the groups noted. They have asked for multiyear funding for Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE)‑accredited programs and clinical placement capacity.
BIR CEO Claire Angus described the document as a whole-system approach that prioritizes sustainable workforce growth, quality assurance, and long-term investment.
Find the full wish list here.
