NEW 'sonographers' are set to be trained by the University of Cumbria following a major funding boost from the virtual North West Ultrasound Academy.

The funding has come from the newly-created North West Imaging Academy, a Government initiative set up to tackle shortages of trained sonographers regionally.

£1million has been awarded to the University of Cumbria and the University of Salford to enhance and expand training facilities.

Charles Sloane, professional lead for the medical sciences group at the University of Cumbria said: "Universities often work in competition with each other for students and clinical partners to support health courses.

"This is not always in the best interests of the NHS workforce and patients, particularly when training resources are very limited.

"It has been so refreshing to take a collaborative regional approach to tacking this issue by working with colleagues from the University of Salford."

It is hoped that additional ultrasound training rooms will be created in Cumbrian hospital trusts, amongst others in the North West.

It will also support dedicated posts for clinical educators and two regional clinical coordinators.

Coordinators will ensure that all stakeholders work together, effectively utilising the regional educational resources available to maximise the training opportunities for a range of professional groups who use this medical imaging technology.

As some departments have not been able to regularly commit to training students, the new collaborative approach is intended to create a network of clinical training sites, allowing a pipeline of sonography graduates to be available each year to enter the workforce.

The scheme is an expansion to an Ultrasound Academy initially launched by the University of Cumbria in 2020. As the scheme was successful they have partnered with the University of Salford to incorporate a number of different NHS Trusts.

Currently, there are around 3,000 trained sonographers practising in the UK. Normally, they are trained radiographers or other healthcare professionals who undertake a post-graduate qualification to practise the field of sonography.