Members of the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) know better than anyone that over 155,000 people in the UK are waiting for an echocardiogram, with 28% waiting over six weeks. You also know there are ways to manage this.
For the last year we have been raising funds to deliver a pilot programme to demonstrate the benefits, including cost efficiencies, improved patient pathways and removed duplication, of physiologist and scientist-led clinics in the NHS. Importantly, we want to ensure that there is effective standardisation in place and that the people working in these roles are recognised as at least Band 8a. That is why this project seeks to establish Level 3 accreditation. Only when we achieve this will we be able to develop the progression pathway for physiologists and scientists, and retain our most experienced echocardiographers in the workforce.
Physiologist and scientist-led clinics could change this; faster results, fewer hospital visits and better use of NHS staff.
We now need your help. We’re running a survey to understand current practice and challenges. The findings from this survey will be used to help secure funding for the project and to provide the benchmark data which helps us make the case for widespread adoption of the roles in the future.
If you manage or work in a physiologist or scientist-led service or want to set one up, we need your input! Please make time to complete the survey before the extended deadline of Sunday 14 December 2025.
Complete the survey
Ethics approval has been sought from the University of Leeds School of Medicine Research Ethics Committee under reference number SoMREC 3464