National Ultrasound Training Programme shortlisted for prestigious UK radiography award

National Ultrasound Training Programme shortlisted for prestigious UK radiography award

The NHS Scotland Academy’s National Ultrasound Training Programme (NUTP) has been shortlisted for Scotland Radiography Team of the Year 2025 in the Society of Radiographers Awards.

Delivered in partnership by NHS Education for Scotland and NHS Golden Jubilee, the programme is revolutionising how ultrasound professionals are trained across the country.

By embedding education directly into clinical practice, NUTP is helping to reduce waiting times, improve patient outcomes, and support the Radiology Recovery Plan.

Since its launch in 2022, NUTP has trained over 130 healthcare professionals from 12 Health Boards and supported more than 20,000 patient scans.

Learners receive hands-on clinical experience in purpose-built training rooms at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital, scanning real patients from national waiting lists under expert mentorship. This approach ensures that training contributes directly to service delivery from day one.

The programme is free to access and open to professionals across NHS Scotland. It offers immersive learning opportunities, including advanced masterclasses and interprofessional training weeks. These have welcomed participants from sonography, radiology, sexual health, obstetrics and gynaecology, physiotherapy, podiatry, and nursing.

In 2025, NUTP launched its first Interprofessional Learner Week, inviting Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (NMAHP) students to explore sonography as a key diagnostic test and career development opportunity.

NUTP’s impact is clear: patient satisfaction rates have reached 98%, Did Not Attend rates have significantly reduced, and recurrent funding has been secured to expand the programme’s reach. The initiative has also established a national Gynaecology Reference Group to improve consistency in ultrasound reporting and developed specialist training in areas such as head and neck ultrasound and musculoskeletal.

Dr Clair Graham, Head of Programmes (Education) at NHS Scotland Academy said:

“We’re incredibly proud to see the National Ultrasound Training Programme recognised at a national level.

“This innovative approach is helping us train more sonographers, reduce waiting times and improve patient outcomes, while supporting staff to learn in a supportive and immersive way.”

The Society of Radiographers Awards celebrate excellence in radiography across the UK. The Radiography Team of the Year category recognises teams who use innovative practices to improve service delivery, patient care or education.

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony in November.

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