The AXREM Ultrasound Special Focus Group (SFG) brings together leading suppliers of diagnostic medical ultrasound equipment, representing the majority of systems installed across UK hospitals and community settings. Our member companies work in close partnership with Consultants, Sonographers, Radiographers, and Clinicians to deliver high quality imaging that supports accurate diagnosis, patient safety, and clinical efficiency.
Ultrasound, also known as diagnostic sonography or ultrasonography is a versatile and essential diagnostic tool. While traditionally associated with radiology departments and sonographers, ultrasound is now widely used across the entire hospital and community environment. From emergency medicine and obstetrics to cardiology, anaesthetics, and general practice, ultrasound enables rapid, non-invasive assessment and decision-making at the point of care.
Collaborative Leadership
The Ultrasound SFG is proud to collaborate with key professional bodies, including:
- British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS)
- Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM)
- Society and College of Radiographers (SoR)
These organisations regularly attend our meetings, contributing to discussions on best practice, standards development, and sector wide improvement. Together, we co create guidance and resources that support safe, effective ultrasound use across the NHS.
Strategic Priorities: Ultrasound Manifesto
In October 2022, AXREM published the Manifesto for Medical Ultrasound: The Modern Day Stethoscope, which outlines the group’s vision for ultrasound as a frontline diagnostic modality. Key priorities include:
- Recognition of Ultrasound’s Value: Promoting ultrasound as a core diagnostic tool across clinical pathways and specialties
- Support for Sonographers: Advocating for professional recognition, training, and workforce development
- Quality Assurance: Encouraging consistent QA protocols to ensure safe and reliable imaging
- Lifecycle Management: Promoting responsible procurement, maintenance, and decommissioning of ultrasound systems
- Education & Standards: Supporting continuous learning and the development of national guidance
Published Guidance and Resources
The group has produced several key documents to support clinical teams and procurement professionals, including:
- Ultrasound Used Equipment Checklist: A practical tool to support safe acquisition and deployment of pre-owned systems Ultrasound Use Equipment Checklist – AXREM
- Decontamination of Ultrasound Transducers: Guidance on infection prevention and control, aligned with national standards Ultrasound Transducer Decontamination – Best Practice Summary – AXREM TRANSDUCER DECONTAMINATION Best practice summary Poster – AXREM
- Position Papers and Best Practice Statements: Covering topics such as user roles, QA protocols, and service expectations
These resources are available to download from the right-hand side of this page and are regularly updated to reflect evolving standards and clinical needs.
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Ultrasound is sound waves with frequencies that are higher than those audible to humans (>20,000 Hz). Ultrasound images are made by sending pulses of ultrasound into tissue using a transducer lightly applied to the skin surface, or sometimes internally. The sound echoes off the tissue; with different tissues reflecting varying degrees of sound. These echoes are recorded and displayed as an image to the operator.
Differing types of images can be generated by the Ultrasound scanner but the most common is often referred to as B-Mode and is a black and white 2-Dimensional cross sectional image. 3-Dimensional imaging is also useful in some areas. Other types of common imaging are blood flow studies making use of the Doppler principle where both the velocity and the amount of blood flowing can be measured. More recent advances in imaging technology allow for the assessment of tissue typing and for quantifying the stiffness of diseased tissue.
Compared to other prominent methods of medical imaging, ultrasound has several advantages. It provides images in real-time, it is portable and can be brought to the bedside, it is substantially lower in cost, and it does not use harmful ionizing radiation.