AXREM hosts debate in collaboration with BMUS
08 December 2022
On the afternoon of 7th December members of BMUS gathered in Cardiff City Hall and in the main council chamber as part of their annual scientific meeting, to participate in a debate collaboratively hosted by AXREM ultrasound special focus group and BMUS.
Debate: The Future of Ultrasound – The Ultrasound Manifesto Reflection, a follow up to the groups manifesto launched in October. This was a debate where the future of ultrasound was discussed and the AXREM Ultrasound manifesto being the basis of discussions. Right first time…. Helping to improve Ultrasound pathways cost and resource management.
An expert panel led discussions and included Rhodri Evans, Consultant Radiologist, Past President of BMUS who hosted the debate, Pamela Parker, Consultant Sonographer, Hull Teaching Hospitals and current BMUS President, Professor Adrian Lim MD FRCR, Professor of Practice and Consultant Radiologist, Imperial College London and Healthcare NHS Trust incoming BMUS President, Francesca Rooke, Senior Buyer – Women’s Health and Microscopes, NHS Supply Chain Coordination Management Function, Ruth Graesser, Ultrasound Lead UKI, Philips Healthcare and Roy Tappin, Region General Manager UKI Ultrasound, GE Healthcare.
The main two topics of conversation and what generated the most feedback and questions were workforce and community diagnostic centres. Talking about community diagnostic centres was timely as earlier that day it was reported in the national news that 19 more CDCs would be created as part of the government’s plans.
Francesca Rooke said that community diagnostic centres have been created to give patients easier access to diagnostic tests, and it is about giving easy access to patients, the right care at the right time.
All who attended the debate agreed that long term sustainable funding is required for both equipment and workforce and that is the only way the current challenges can be addressed. Roy Tappin, Convenor of the AXREM group advised that the manifesto was written by the industry group to ask the government to invest in long term sustainable funding and he wants to explore how we can all work together collectively to address the issues highlighted in the document. Pam Parker advised that AXREM raising the issues on behalf of the profession if hugely helpful. Pam also said that it is down to us all to create the workforce of the future and feels we will not solve the current workforce crisis with the current way of working.
On conclusion of the event Roy Tappin, AXREM ultrasound convenor said “It is clear from the debate that we had at BMUS that we have several very complex issues that are going to take time to resolve. I do believe however that by working together and by having open and constructive dialogue we can and will make significant progress. Collaboration between BMUS (plus other professional bodies) and Industry is key, and it is at a level now that is unprecedented.
On behalf of the AXREM Ultrasound SFG I would like to thank Pamela Parker for all her hard work over the past 2 years as President, and for many years prior to that. I believe we have strengthened our collaboration under Pam’s leadership and we very much look forward to continuing that with Dr Adrian Lim.
Let keep the debate going”
Pamela Parker, BMUS President said “BMUS were delighted to host the AXREM debate at the society’s 2022 annual scientific meeting in Cardiff. The City Hall council chamber provided a perfect setting for a debate related to the pressing issues facing medical ultrasound in the current health care setting. These issues have been clearly described in the recently published AXREM Ultrasound manifesto. The debate engendered much discussion from the panel and delegates with a key theme of workforce threading throughout. BMUS Is grateful for the support of AXREM and all industry partners in their support of the ultrasound profession and this debate gave us a perfect opportunity to build on the important relationship between the clinical and industry worlds”.
Sally Edgington AXREM Director said “I would like to thank BMUS for allowing the opportunity to jointly host the debate, and a thank you to all the BMUS members who attended and participated in the discussions. It was clear to see that industry and BMUS are aligned and this important relationship if key to helping tackle and raise the issues to government. I must also personally thank Pamela Parker who has worked with AXREM over the last few years to strengthen and build a strong working relationship between out organisations and I look forward to ensuring we build on this further”.
To read the AXREM manifesto: https://www.axrem.org.uk/axrem-publishes-manifesto-for-medical-ultrasound-the-modern-day-stethoscope/
ENDS