Dr Gareth Bolton, PhD

Biography

Before moving into higher education, in January 2011, I was a Senior Radiographer/Sonographer for over ten years (specialising in general medical, vascular, obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound practice).

I am the Programme Leader for the MSc Medical Imaging (Ultrasound) awards at University of Cumbria. 

I remain a HCPC registered diagnostic radiographer. I am also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

My research interest is Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder (WRMSD) in ultrasound practice in the UK, and I successfully defended my PhD, in 2023, studying at Lancaster university.

I am an accreditor for the Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE). In this role I am involved in reviewing and advising on the quality of ultrasound programmes and focused short courses in ultrasound, across the UK, prior to accreditation and re-accreditation.

I was an elected member of British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) council (from January 2018 - December 2022). I remain a member of BMUS I currently represent BMUS on CASE committee. I was Vice Chair of CASE committee (from Autumn 2020) and I took over as CASE committee chair (summer 2023).

I have a passion for ultrasound and in securing a viable and competent ultrasound workforce for the future.

Qualifications and memberships

PhD Medical Ultrasound

MSc Medical Ultrasound

PgCert Academic Practice

BSc (hons) Diagnostic Radiography

HCPC registerred Diagnostic Radiographer

Society & College of Radiographers (SCoR) member

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

BMUS member

Academic and research interests

Clinical Ultrasound Practice (Gynaecological, General Medical & Vascular Ultrasound)

Curriculum Design and Ultrasound Programme Management and Development

Physical Principles and Technology in Medical Ultrasound

Student Mentorship & Clinical Education in Ultrasound

Work Related Musculo-Skeletal Disorder (WRMSD) prevention in medical ultrasound

Dissertation supervision

National ultrasound workforce shortage strategy.

Research supervision

I am the 'dissertation' module leader for master’s level dissertations, across the postgraduate medical imaging programmes. My research expertise is predominantly in ultrasound, although I have experience of supervising a range of undergraduate and postgraduate dissertation topics.

Publications

Smith D, Bolton G.C. (2025) Diagnosing adenomyosis using transvaginal ultrasound in current practice: A scoping review and service evaluation. Ultrasound. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/1742271X251338147

Bolton, G.C., Booth, L. and Miller, P.K. (2024) ‘ Work-related musculoskeletal disorders in ultrasound practice, the contextual concerns of sonographers’, UK Imaging and Oncology Congress, ACC Liverpool, 10th to 12th June 2024.

Booth, L., Miller, P.K. and Bolton, G.C. (2024). ‘UK sonographers’ perspectives on the cultural, professional and environmental contexts of living with work-related musculoskeletal disorders’, UK Imaging and Oncology Congress, ACC Liverpool, 10th to 12th June 2024.

Miller, P.K., Booth, L. and Bolton, G.C. (2024). ‘“We’ve got 30 patients, so who’s working Saturday?” Seven ideological dilemmas for sonographers with work-related musculoskeletal disorders’, UK Imaging and Oncology Congress, ACC Liverpool, 10th to 12th June 2024.

Smith, D. and Bolton, G.C. (2024). ‘Reporting of adenomyosis: a service evaluation’, UK Imaging and Oncology Congress, ACC Liverpool, 10th to 12th June 2024.

Tyler, J., Waring, L., and Bolton, G.C. (2024). ‘The Republic of Ireland sonographer reporting pilot study’, UK Imaging and Oncology Congress, ACC Liverpool, 10 to 12 June 2024.

Venables, H., Bolton, G.C., Fail, T. (2024) ‘Do CASE accredited MSc Ultrasound Programmes meet the requirements for Accreditation with the Centre for Advancing Practice?’ UK Imaging and Oncology Congress, ACC Liverpool, 10 to 12 June 2024.

Bolton, G 2022, 'Ideological dilemmas and work-related musculoskeletal disorders in ultrasound practice: an interpretive phenomenological analysis of the lived experiences of sonographers', PhD, Lancaster University. https://doi.org/10.17635/lancaster/thesis/2171

Miller, Paul K. , Bolton, Gareth , Waring, Lorelei and Booth, Lisa (2022) Future-proofing education for advanced clinical practice in ultrasound: the perspectives of clinical leads in England. A Report published for Health Education England (HEE).

Bolton, Gareth, Booth, Lisa and Miller, Paul K. (2021) Work-Related Muscular-Skeletal Disorder among UK Sonographers: Understanding the Challenges. RAD Magazine, 47 (557). pp. 20-22.

Miller, Paul K., Grabrovaz, Meaghan, Bolton, Gareth and Waring, Lorelei (2020) The future of ultrasound Advanced Clinical Practitioner education: Mapping the views of clinical leads in the public and private sector. In: United Kingdom Imaging and Oncology Congress 2020: Pathways and Communication, 1-3 June 2020, ACC, Liverpool. (Unpublished)

Grabrovaz, Meaghan, Miller, Paul K., Bolton, Gareth and Waring, Lorelei (2020) The future of ultrasound Advanced Clinical Practitioner education: Mapping the views of programme leads in the UK. In: United Kingdom Imaging and Oncology Congress 2020: Pathways and Communication, 1-3 June 2020, ACC, Liverpool. (Unpublished)

Bolton, Gareth, Booth, Lisa and Miller, Paul K. (2020) The personal impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) on sonographers. In: United Kingdom Imaging and Oncology Congress (UKIO), 1-3 June 2020, ACC, Liverpool. (Unpublished)

Bolton, G.C., Booth, L. and Miller, P.K. (2019) 'Sonographers' experiences of work-related musculoskeletal disorder. An ideological dilemma?’ Exhibited at United Kingdom Imaging & Oncology Conference (UKIO). Liverpool. 10^th-12^th June 2019.

Bolton, G.C., Waring, L., White, H. and Brown, H. (2019) 'Direct Entry Ultrasound: Undergraduate and Post-Graduate Routes. The Unique Perspectives of Two HEIs', Imaging and Oncology, 2019(1), pp. 56-63.

Miller, P.K., Waring, L., Bolton, G.C. and Sloane, C. (2019) Personnel flux and workplace anxiety: Personal and interpersonal consequences of understaffing in UK ultrasound departments. Radiography. Volume 25, Issue 1, 46 - 50

Waring, L. & Bolton, G.C. (2018). Direct Entry Postgraduate Ultrasound – The University of Cumbria Experience, A report for Health Education North West.

Bolton, G.C., Booth, L. and Miller, P.K. (2018) 'Sonographers' experiences of work-related musculoskeletal disorder: The everyday consequences of physiological stress and injury in contemporary ultrasound', UK Radiological and Radiation Oncology. Liverpool ACC, 2nd to 4th July 2018.

Waring, L., Miller, P.K., Sloane, C. and Bolton, G.C. (2018) 'Charting the practical dimensions of understaffing from a managerial perspective: everyday consequences of the UK’s sonographer shortage', UK Radiological and Radiation Oncology Congress. Liverpool ACC, 2nd to 4th July 2018.

Waring, L., Miller, P.K., Sloane, C. and Bolton, G. (2018) ‘Charting the practical dimensions of understaffing from a managerial perspective: The everyday shape of the UK’s sonographer shortage’, Ultrasound, doi: 10.1177/1742271X18772606.

Marland, A. Bolton, G. (2017) 'Success rates at cervical catheterisation in a sonographer-led HyCoSy service: a retrospective baseline audit'. Exhibited at UKRC Manchester, June 2017.

Waring, L. Bolton, G. Smart, S. (2015) ‘Direct Entry MSc in Ultrasound – Changing the Face of Sonography Training’. Exhibited at BMUS Conference Cardiff, December 2015.

Bolton, G. C. and Cox, D. L. (2015), Survey of UK sonographers on the prevention of work related muscular-skeletal disorder (WRMSD). J. Clin. Ultrasound. Doi: 10.1002/jcu.22216

Recent external roles

Chair, Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE) Committee (July 2023 - present).

Vice Chair, Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE) Committee (Autumn 2020-July 2023).

Lead Accreditor Consortium for the Accreditation of Sonographic Education (CASE), since 2014.

Clinical Sonographer (honorary NHS role), since April 2013.

BMUS Council member (January 2018-December 2022).

CASE Committee Member (since January 2019).

External Examiner University College Dublin (since September 2023).

Sonography Task and Finish Group.

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