Delegates travel from far afield to gain hands-on ultrasound training

The number of ultrasound scans performed in the UK by the NHS from November 2016 to November 2017 was 9,300,820 and was the second highest of all diagnostic imaging according to NHS data. This represents an increase of 20 per cent over four years and does not account for the growing number of private scans.

In helping to meet the growing demand, this year’s carotid ultrasound imaging course run by Wessex Diagnostic, in collaboration with Canon Medical Systems, provided individual hands-on scanning practice. The Royal Society of Medicine provided the setting and delegates attended from as far afield as Cyprus, Iceland, Belgium, Israel and Australia. The scanning workshops allowed individual scanning time on live models, under the careful supervision of the experienced ultrasound faculty.

Director of Wessex Diagnostic Helen Humphries said: “The future is bright for ultrasound – there is huge scope for its increased use in the community to reduce diagnosis time and help pressurised hospital departments. The need for practical hands-on scanning skills training is now more important than ever to ensure accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatments.”

According to Canon Medical Systems there has been a significant increase in the types of practitioner required to utilise ultrasound imaging as a regular part of their workload. “From point of care and critical care to interventional procedures and one-stop outpatient clinics, clinicians and other healthcare professionals are in a position to be able to use ultrasound to support their practice. Supporting the effective training of new users, as well as developing the skills of those already working in this field, is an important aspect of Canon’s ‘made for life’ philosophy,” states the company.

Picture: Wessex Diagnostic and Canon Medical Systems provide hands-on training and skills development.

Published on page 13 of the June issue of RAD Magazine.