The health of the New Zealand cardiac sonographer workforce: cardiac sonographer workforce survey

aim: The aim of this study was to quantify the current state of the cardiac sonographer workforce within Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora. methods: In 2024, the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand surveyed all Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora echocardiography departments to collect workforce data on cardiac sonographers. Population data were obtained from Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora. results: A total of 109 Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora–employed cardiac sonographers were identified. Of these, 72 (70%) were female and 71 (70%) trained in New Zealand. Twenty percent were aged over 50 years, with experience ranging from trainees to 45 years in practice. Nationally, there was one cardiac sonographer per 49,000 people, compared with one per 14,000 in Australia. In two of the five districts with the highest proportions of Māori and Pacific people, this ratio exceeded the national average: Northland (1:69,000) and Hawke’s Bay (1:62,000). Workforce capacity remained largely unchanged over time, from 1.4 full-time equivalent (FTE) per 100,000 population in 2010 to 1.6 FTE per 100,000 in 2024, while vacancies increased from 3.2 FTE (4.5%) in 2013 to 15.9 FTE (19%) in 2024. conclusions: New Zealand has substantially fewer cardiac sonographers than Australia, with little growth in workforce capacity and a fivefold increase in vacancies since 2013, raising concerns about workforce sustainability and equitable access to echocardiography services.