Response to the consultation on the draft Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2018

This document summarises responses to a DH consultation on transposing EU directives on protection against the dangers arising from medical exposure to radiation.

IR(ME)R annual report 2016

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) annual IR(ME)R report is a hugely useful document which provides imaging departments and cancer centres with invaluable learning about patient over-exposure to radiation used in vital imaging tests and cancer treatment.

Radiation dose monitoring software for medical imaging with ionising radiation [MIB127]

New:  Medtech Innovation Briefing from NICE:

The technologies described in this briefing are 8 radiation dose monitoring software technologies that automatically gather and analyse information on patients' exposure to ionising radiation from medical imaging and X‑ray-guided procedures.

The innovative aspects are that dose-related data from medical imaging with ionising radiation can be systematically collected, monitored and analysed in a largely automated way. The technologies are designed to improve image quality while minimising radiation exposure to the patient.

Table 1 Summary of included technologies

Innovations

Current guidelines and arrangements

Population, setting and intended user

Costs

Resource consequences

CQC reports on radiation incidents

The CQC's annual report on activity relating to our enforcement of The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 in England has been published.

The report gives a breakdown of the number and type of notifications we received from healthcare providers when patients received exposures of radiation that were ‘much greater than intended’ during 2016.

Radiation risk with digital mammography in breast screening

This review estimates the risks and benefits of breast screening in terms of number of deaths due to radiation-induced cancers and the number of lives saved due to digital breast screening in the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) in England.

Regulations on medical exposure to ionising radiation

This consultation from the Department of Health seeks views on proposed regulations on safety standards for protection against the dangers from medical exposure to ionising radiation.  This consultation closes on 31 July 2017.

ARSAC Notes for Guidance: good clinical practice in nuclear medicine

Guidance from DH, PHE and ARSAC on certification and best use of radiopharmaceuticals and sealed radioactive sources in diagnosis, treatment or research.

Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 (IRMER)

Requirements of IRMER 2000 with regard to exposures much greater than intended and diagnostic reference levels.

Radiotherapy: learning from errors

Development of learning from radiotherapy errors: supplementary guidance. This document:

• presents the causative factor taxonomy
• presents the refinement to the radiotherapy pathway coding which includes the introduction of the safety barrier taxonomy
• provides guidance on the application of the taxonomy
• shares submission procedures for coding with radiotherapy staff and risk managers for inclusion in national analysis
• encourages local application of the taxonomies to improve local learning from radiotherapy error and near miss events (RTE)

Computerised Tomography (CT) scanners in Nuclear Medicine facilities; use by nuclear medicine practitioners from both radiographic and technologist backgrounds

The Society and College of Radiographers recognises that the developing use of multi-detector computerised tomography (MDCT) scanners within nuclear medicine facilities provides a challenge to the non-medical workforce to assure high quality patient services. The Nuclear Medicine Advisory Group (NMAG) of the SCoR has developed this statement to support the non-medical workforce in delivering safeservices.