The U.K. Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and other groups have released updated Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) guidance for interventional radiology and diagnostic nuclear medicine.
The new advice "seeks to explain how the requirements of the regulations should be interpreted and used in practice," noted Dr. Stewart Redman, radiation protection advisor to the RCR, in the document's foreword. "It explains the principles and requirements of IR(ME)R, providing clinical scenarios to enable practical interpretation of the regulations ... and has been written in support of all staff groups involved in medical and non-medical exposures within clinical settings."
The document is for staff in the National Health Service and the independent sector, research laboratories, universities, and sports facilities. The advice also applies to those services using ionizing radiation outside of radiology and nuclear medicine departments, such as cardiology and orthopedics. Specific guidance is available for dental exposures and therefore is not covered in this guidance.
"We hope this document will support the diagnostic and nuclear medicine communities to implement IR(ME)R in their practice," the RCR said.
The RCR worked with the following partners to craft the document:
- British Institute of Radiology
- British Society of Paediatric Radiology
- Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine
- Medical Exposures Group, Public Health England
- Society and College of Radiographers
The guidance can be downloaded for free on the RCR's website. It will be updated next in 2024, according to the college.
