There is a myth doing the rounds that the role of sonographer is no longer going to be supported by the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR).
Please be reassured that the SCoR is fully supportive of sonographers and the role they play within the imaging pathway and will continue to support sonographers as best we can.
I was recruited in March this year to the post of professional officer for ultrasound to work alongside Nigel Thomson, providing full-time cover for sonography and ultrasound issues, at a time when there is so much going on nationally in sonography and as we try to build the sonographic workforce.
The one thing that is changing is the Public Voluntary Register of Sonographers (PVRS). In light of the Professional Standards Authority report recommendation that sonographers are part of an accredited voluntary register, which the PVRS is not, UK Council have agreed that the PVRS will cease in its current format at the end of February 2021.
Our commitment to sonographers continues, but an interim solution was required for sonographers to move to a PSA accredited register; the PVRS did not offer this assurance. We are continuing negotiations to transfer the PVRS to an accredited register and hope to have some news later in the year.
In the meantime, behind the scenes SCoR staff continue to support and lobby for sonographer regulation, and are currently ensuring this is captured within the forthcoming People Plan.
We are working closely with the chief allied health professions officer for England in progressing this, together with the Royal College of Radiologists and the British Medical Ultrasound Society.