Feb 2023 Update
Dear all,
We hope you are keeping well.
We previously held a virtual Wessex Deanery Basic Ultrasound Theory Course on the
17 th July 2021.
A subsequent face-to-face course, in conjunction with the Ultrasound Training Academy
(based at Princess Anne Hospital) took place on the 7th July 2022, and included basic as well
as intermediate ultrasound training. It had both theoretical and practical hands-on training.
Our next Basic Ultrasound Theory Course is planned for Thursday, 15 th June 2023 at Queen
Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth. It is aimed at ST1-2 level trainees and provides the theory
component for the basic (mandatory) ultrasound training.
Please contact Tatjana.Nikisina@porthosp.nhs.uk directly via e-mail if you would like to
attend/ register. Course programme, directions and parking guidance will be disseminated
closer to the time.
Attached is the last newsletter, which summarises the main changes to the ultrasound
component of the new curriculum. It also includes some useful FREE online resources we
wanted to share that may help with your logbook competencies.
There should be a drive in all units to make sure trainees have completed their mandatory US
training modules by the end of ST3. If there are any concerns, please let us know.
Those doing ATSMs that mandate completing an intermediate US training module should
also be getting adequate training sessions. If there are any concerns, please get in touch.
Tatjana Nikisina
Deanery Ultrasound Coordinator (Tatjana.Nikisina@porthosp.nhs.uk)
Shabnam Bobdiwala
Education Fellow and Ultrasound Trainee Representative (Shabnam.Bobdiwala@uhs.nhs.uk)
Curriculum
In summary, the names have changed slightly, but the requirements are essentially the same.
The previous 2 basic and 3 intermediate modules are now incorporated into the core ‘procedural skills in obstetrics
and gynaecology’ as outlined in the Core Curriculum Definitive Document
The OSAT for the transabdominal examination of early pregnancy is the same.
For the transabdominal examination of later pregnancy, the required OSATs are:
1. Assessment of fetal lie, presentation, liquor assessment (amniotic fluid index (AFI) and maximum pool
depth) and placental assessment.
2. Measurement of HC, AC and FL - formative OSATs required to demonstrate evidence of directly
supervised practice.
• You are not expected to be independent to perform biometry, and this would not be expected in clinical practice, but
serves as a stepping-stone to the intermediate module.
• Please check individual ATSMs for intermediate ultrasound requirements.
• More info: https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/careers-training/specialty-training-curriculum/ultrasound-training/
The previous 2 basic and 3 intermediate modules are now incorporated into the core ‘procedural skills in obstetrics
and gynaecology’ as outlined in the Core Curriculum Definitive Document
The OSAT for the transabdominal examination of early pregnancy is the same.
For the transabdominal examination of later pregnancy, the required OSATs are:
1. Assessment of fetal lie, presentation, liquor assessment (amniotic fluid index (AFI) and maximum pool
depth) and placental assessment.
2. Measurement of HC, AC and FL - formative OSATs required to demonstrate evidence of directly
supervised practice.
• You are not expected to be independent to perform biometry, and this would not be expected in clinical practice, but
serves as a stepping-stone to the intermediate module.
• Please check individual ATSMs for intermediate ultrasound requirements.
• More info: https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/careers-training/specialty-training-curriculum/ultrasound-training/
Resources
Introduction to ultrasound e-book
ISUOG Lectures on a range of gynae, early pregnancy and obstetric ultrasound topics
‘How to’ articles from ISUOG. Includes cervical length and assessment of position in labour for those doing ATSMs
UOG articles on a range of obstetric and gynaecology topics
NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme (FASP) with good fetal cardiac videos. Available for at e-learning for health (need to register):
Fetal medicine online modules on a range of ultrasound topics (mainly obstetric)
FREE Fetal Medicine Foundation Webinars during Covid-19. Varied topics, can watch back later:
A great gynaecology ultrasound training resource from Dr Susanne Johnson, based at Princess Anne Hospital
Wessex Fetal Medicine Unit: Labour ward emergency scan- Twin to twin transfusion, complete fetal heart block
ISUOG Lectures on a range of gynae, early pregnancy and obstetric ultrasound topics
‘How to’ articles from ISUOG. Includes cervical length and assessment of position in labour for those doing ATSMs
UOG articles on a range of obstetric and gynaecology topics
NHS Fetal Anomaly Screening Programme (FASP) with good fetal cardiac videos. Available for at e-learning for health (need to register):
Fetal medicine online modules on a range of ultrasound topics (mainly obstetric)
FREE Fetal Medicine Foundation Webinars during Covid-19. Varied topics, can watch back later:
A great gynaecology ultrasound training resource from Dr Susanne Johnson, based at Princess Anne Hospital
Wessex Fetal Medicine Unit: Labour ward emergency scan- Twin to twin transfusion, complete fetal heart block
Scan Academy
The peripatetic ultrasound trainers, Gill Newcombe, Deirdre Murphy and Famida Sadak are excited to announce that
the Ultrasound Training Academy – HEE (South East) will be welcoming regional ultrasound trainees from October
2021.
The Ultrasound Training Academy project originated from the work of our peripatetic ultrasound trainers, supported
by Health Education England (HEE) - Wessex, now known as HEE South East.
Since 2016, our objectives have been to address the shortfall in sonography training as well as:
Increase ultrasound training capacity for ultrasound clinical education.
Provide standardised, high quality ultrasound training.
Ensure patients are at the forefront of our care.
Support doctors, midwives and trainee sonographers across the region.
We are extremely pleased to announce that the Ultrasound Training Academy is the first dedicated facility for
ultrasound training and protected for trainee use only within the South East region.
Trainees will supplement their clinical training with formalised simulation training that will be considerably beneficial
to the trainee’s progress.
The arrangement of simulation training and practical training will offer the trainee to learn in a non-pressured
environment, supporting their learning in anatomy, pathology and ‘hand-eye’ co-ordination.
Trainees will have dedicated ultrasound sessions with extended ‘hands on time’ scanning patients and applying their
theoretical knowledge in practice. The trainees will be fully supported by the ultrasound trainers.
The current training facility is comprised of two fully equipped ultrasound rooms with state of the art ultrasound
equipment and a dedicated room to facilitate simulation training.
Trainees will be able to book sessions to work on the virtual reality based training system – the Ultrasound Intelligent
ScanTrainer. Please email UltrasoundTrainingHEE@uhs.nhs.uk to book scan trainer sessions.
We will be opening a third ultrasound room within the next year to facilitate the training needs across the South East.
The Ultrasound Training Academy is based within Princess Anne Hospital (PAH), Southampton, where Gill, Deirdre
and Famida will be working closely with the college tutors.
the Ultrasound Training Academy – HEE (South East) will be welcoming regional ultrasound trainees from October
2021.
The Ultrasound Training Academy project originated from the work of our peripatetic ultrasound trainers, supported
by Health Education England (HEE) - Wessex, now known as HEE South East.
Since 2016, our objectives have been to address the shortfall in sonography training as well as:
Increase ultrasound training capacity for ultrasound clinical education.
Provide standardised, high quality ultrasound training.
Ensure patients are at the forefront of our care.
Support doctors, midwives and trainee sonographers across the region.
We are extremely pleased to announce that the Ultrasound Training Academy is the first dedicated facility for
ultrasound training and protected for trainee use only within the South East region.
Trainees will supplement their clinical training with formalised simulation training that will be considerably beneficial
to the trainee’s progress.
The arrangement of simulation training and practical training will offer the trainee to learn in a non-pressured
environment, supporting their learning in anatomy, pathology and ‘hand-eye’ co-ordination.
Trainees will have dedicated ultrasound sessions with extended ‘hands on time’ scanning patients and applying their
theoretical knowledge in practice. The trainees will be fully supported by the ultrasound trainers.
The current training facility is comprised of two fully equipped ultrasound rooms with state of the art ultrasound
equipment and a dedicated room to facilitate simulation training.
Trainees will be able to book sessions to work on the virtual reality based training system – the Ultrasound Intelligent
ScanTrainer. Please email UltrasoundTrainingHEE@uhs.nhs.uk to book scan trainer sessions.
We will be opening a third ultrasound room within the next year to facilitate the training needs across the South East.
The Ultrasound Training Academy is based within Princess Anne Hospital (PAH), Southampton, where Gill, Deirdre
and Famida will be working closely with the college tutors.
