The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000:
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000, (IR(ME)R 2000), came into force on 13 May 2000 to implement the European Directive 97/43/Euratom (The Medical Exposures Directive). The regulations replaced the Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988 (POPUMET) which have been repealed.
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The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 require employers undertaking medical exposures to establish diagnostic reference levels (DRL) and to undertake appropriate reviews if these are consistently exceeded.
Read more on Guidance on the establishment and use of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs)
On 1 April 2009, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) assumed responsibility from the Healthcare Commission for the inspection and enforcement for incidents under Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000. Further information is available on the CQC website.
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure)(Amendment) Regulations 2006, SI 2006/2523 (‘the Regulations’) amend the 2000 Regulations. IRMER 2006. They passed the enforcement powers under the 2000 Regulations to the “appropriate authority”. In England, the current “appropriate authority” is the Care Quality Commission. The Amendment Regulations also make amendments to certain definitions in the 2000 Regulations in order to clarify:
Reporting Medical Exposures “Much Greater Than Intended”
Currently, there is no specific guidance issued by the Department of Health regarding the reporting of incidents resulting from a person undergoing a medical exposure as required by The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 (IRMER) Regulation 4(5). The Department wishes to update any previous advice with immediate effect and advise employers that the reporting of exposures much greater than intended as defined in IRMER shall be as set out in the “Guidance on Reporting” section below until further notice.
Background
In March 2006, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) made available the third edition of PM77 (PM77V3) ‘Equipment used in connection with medical exposure‘ on their website.
PM77 V3 addresses the requirement for reporting of incidents to the Health and Safety Executive where a radiation employer suspects or has been informed that a person, while undergoing a medical exposure and as a result of a malfunction or defect in radiation equipment, was exposed to ionising radiation to an extent much greater than intended – the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999, Regulation 32(6).
However, following a limited consultation with professional bodies in 2011 we have listened to the feedback and have committed to draft, consult and issue new joint guidance with HSE later this year.
Guidance on Reporting
In the short-term, to clarify what should be currently reported to IRMER Enforcement Authorities we have added a small amendment to PM77 V3 (DH) (PDF, 6MB) in Table 1, Appendix 2.
Referring to table 1 Annex 2 * exclude reasonable repeat exposures when any repeat is for technical / optimisation purposes rather than a procedural error
Read more about the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 on the Care Quality Commission website
In England, notifications of radiation incidents can be reported in the strictest confidence to:
email: IRMER@cqc.org.uk (opens new window)
Employers in Devolved Administrations should report such incidents to their respective IRMER Enforcement Authorities. Department of Health
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000, (IR(ME)R 2000), came into force on 13 May 2000 to implement the European Directive 97/43/Euratom (The Medical Exposures Directive). The regulations replaced the Ionising Radiation (Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination or Treatment) Regulations 1988 (POPUMET) which have been repealed.
Read more about:
- The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000
- The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 – guidance and notes on good practice notes (PDF, 39K)
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 require employers undertaking medical exposures to establish diagnostic reference levels (DRL) and to undertake appropriate reviews if these are consistently exceeded.
Read more on Guidance on the establishment and use of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs)
On 1 April 2009, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) assumed responsibility from the Healthcare Commission for the inspection and enforcement for incidents under Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000. Further information is available on the CQC website.
The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure)(Amendment) Regulations 2006, SI 2006/2523 (‘the Regulations’) amend the 2000 Regulations. IRMER 2006. They passed the enforcement powers under the 2000 Regulations to the “appropriate authority”. In England, the current “appropriate authority” is the Care Quality Commission. The Amendment Regulations also make amendments to certain definitions in the 2000 Regulations in order to clarify:
- their meaning
- reflect changes to terminology used in the 2000 Regulations
- make transitional provision for incomplete matters or matters not finally disposed of before the Regulations came into force on 1 November 2006
Reporting Medical Exposures “Much Greater Than Intended”
Currently, there is no specific guidance issued by the Department of Health regarding the reporting of incidents resulting from a person undergoing a medical exposure as required by The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 (IRMER) Regulation 4(5). The Department wishes to update any previous advice with immediate effect and advise employers that the reporting of exposures much greater than intended as defined in IRMER shall be as set out in the “Guidance on Reporting” section below until further notice.
Background
In March 2006, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) made available the third edition of PM77 (PM77V3) ‘Equipment used in connection with medical exposure‘ on their website.
PM77 V3 addresses the requirement for reporting of incidents to the Health and Safety Executive where a radiation employer suspects or has been informed that a person, while undergoing a medical exposure and as a result of a malfunction or defect in radiation equipment, was exposed to ionising radiation to an extent much greater than intended – the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999, Regulation 32(6).
However, following a limited consultation with professional bodies in 2011 we have listened to the feedback and have committed to draft, consult and issue new joint guidance with HSE later this year.
Guidance on Reporting
In the short-term, to clarify what should be currently reported to IRMER Enforcement Authorities we have added a small amendment to PM77 V3 (DH) (PDF, 6MB) in Table 1, Appendix 2.
Referring to table 1 Annex 2 * exclude reasonable repeat exposures when any repeat is for technical / optimisation purposes rather than a procedural error
Read more about the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 on the Care Quality Commission website
In England, notifications of radiation incidents can be reported in the strictest confidence to:
email: IRMER@cqc.org.uk (opens new window)
Employers in Devolved Administrations should report such incidents to their respective IRMER Enforcement Authorities. Department of Health
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