Alison Hall

Biography

I am a diagnostic radiographer by background and trained in diagnostic ultrasound in 1996, specialising in musculoskeletal ultrasound in 2002. In 2008 I joined Keele University in a new post as a consultant sonographer/research fellow. My role is to provide a link between clinical practice, in the context of a relatively new field of musculoskeletal ultrasound in rheumatology services. The post is a collaborative one between the Haywood Hospital and Cannock Chase Hospital, with clinical research at the Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Primary Care Sciences, Keele University.

This post has enabled both Trusts to develop a rheumatology ultrasound service and facilitate research into diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory disease.

Whilst I am employed by Keele University, I am seconded to Cannock Chase and the Haywood hospitals for 2 days each per week and am at Keele for 1 day.

Research and scholarship

Since joining Keele, I have been involved in the training of researchers to use diagnostic ultrasound in several research studies. I have also provided clinical ultrasound data for these studies.

These include:

• USSGO: Polyarticular sonographic assessment of gout: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

• SUPPORT:Improving outcomes for patients with shoulder impingement

• CASF:Clinical Assessment Study (Foot)

Further information

• I still have significant clinical commitment to musculoskeletal ultrasound both in diagnostics and in ultrasound guided joint injections and have clinics at both hospital departments and within orthopaedics and sports medicine.

• I am a regular speaker on ultrasound and guided injections on courses at several universities and run national study days.

• I am chair of the Musculoskeletal Sonographer Special Interest Group and member of the National Ultrasound Governance committee.

• I am a member of the Society of Radiographers and the British Medical Ultrasound Society.