The SoR is now calling for sonographer to become a protected job title in the UK in the same way as dietician, podiatrist, art therapist or radiographer.
That would mean only those who are properly qualified and registered with a regulatory body would be allowed to use that job description.
Many private sonographers are already qualified midwives or radiographers, and accredited training courses are also available, although this is currently not a legal requirement.
Individual sonographers can also decide to join the Register of Clinical Technologists, external, which the public can then search to see if certain standards have been met, but again participation is voluntary.
The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care recently carried out a public interest test of that register and has written to the government to say the “risks appear sufficiently high” that it should consider if stronger regulation of sonographers may be needed.
The Care Quality Commission which inspects private clinics said many were providing good quality care, but it “remains concerned that some are not” with worries over staff training, consent policies and procedures for escalating unusual findings.
Where its inspections identify concerns it said it would “hold providers to account and make clear that action is required to ensure staff are adequately trained”.
In a statement, the Department of Health said the safety of patients was paramount and the regulation of all healthcare professionals was kept under review.
“We will carefully consider any proposals from professional bodies regarding this,” added a spokesman.