About Sonoscope
Struggling to get seen for an ultrasound guided injection?
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Rob Mast
Specialist Physiotherapist/ Sonographer
How it all started
I have been an advanced practice physiotherapist in the NHS for more than 20 years. In that role, I have treated many thousands of patients with various musculoskeletal problems. Injection therapy has always been and continues to be an important part of my role. Traditionally injections, especially in those days, were performed with or without guidance, i.e., most clinicians provided only unguided injections. In other words, they were administered without any form of imaging.
Ultrasound to guide injections
Early on, I was aware of diagnostic ultrasound becoming more accessible and used in the clinical setting, both for diagnostic purposes as well as to guide injections.
Very early on I trained to become competent in diagnostic ultrasound. After having obtained a postgraduate certificate (PgCert) in diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, I also trained to become competent in ultrasound-guided injections; this has further improved the safety accuracy and comfort of injection therapy. Since then, I have performed thousands of diagnostic ultrasounds and ultrasound-guided injections in my NHS practice.
Teaching diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound-guided injections
Once I was qualified and competent, it became quite clear that many other health professionals were also quite keen to train in diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound-guided injections.
Since 2013 I have been formally teaching diagnostic ultrasound and ultrasound-guided injections via CPD courses through The Ultrasound Site Ltd. (one of the key providers of MSK ultrasound training in the UK). Together with the team on the ultrasound side, I then started as an honorary lecturer, working with Brunel University to provide our postgraduate certificate in musculoskeletal ultrasound (a recognised formal qualification and minimum standard required when wanting to provide diagnostic ultrasound professionally), as well as an ultrasound-guided injection module.
One-Stop Clinic:
I was quite aware of the often long and drawn-out process of people trying to obtain ultrasound-guided injections privately. This led me to start my own company, Sonoscope Ltd, with the aim of providing ultrasound-guided injections to private patients.
I set up the Sonoscope One-Stop Clinic to provide an all-in-one service for self-funding private patients. This meant that within half an hour, the patient receives a consultation that includes a physical examination, followed by a diagnostic ultrasound; if appropriate, an ultrasound-guided injection (steroid or other) is also provided within that same session.
The Sonoscope One-Stop Ultrasound-Guided Injection Clinic
Over the past 10 years or so, I have successfully provided fast access to pinpoint accurate ultrasound-guided injections. Patients can self refer to my clinic and typically receive an injection within a week.