Website of the Department of Health

Updated  6 May 2009

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. DH has issued guidance on national DRL which is available from the link below.

• Guidance on the establishment and use of diagnostic reference levels (DRLs)

On 1 April 2009, the Care Quality Commission assumed responsibility from the Healthcare Commission for the inspection and enforcement for incidents under Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000. Service provider information is available from the link to the Commission's website below.

The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure)(Amendment) Regulations 2006, SI 2006/2523  ('the Regulations') amend the  2000 Regulations and can be found at  by following the link below. 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; and make transitional provision for incomplete matters or matters not finally disposed of before the Regulations came into force on 1 November 2006.

Reporting incidents of radiation

Notifications of radiation incidents can be reported in the strictest confidence to Joanne Riggs, IRMER Co-ordinator.

In March 2006, the Health and Safety Executive made available the third edition of PM77 'Equipment used in connection with medical exposure' on the HSE website by following the link below.

This document addresses the requirement for reporting of incidents where a radiation employer suspects or has been informed that a person was, while undergoing a medical exposure was, as a result of a malfunction or defect in radiation equipment, exposed to ionising radiation to an extent much greater than intended - the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999, Regulation 32(6).

Currently, there is no similar specific guidance issued by DH regarding the reporting of incidents resulting in a person undergoing a medical exposure who was, otherwise than as a result of a malfunction or defect in radiation equipment, exposed to ionising radiation to an extent much greater than intended (MGTI) - the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 Regulation 4(5).   DH is currently reviewing this MGTI guidance with other IRMER authorities.  In addition, DH is working closely with HSE and MHRA (devices) to produce web-based joined-up guidance on how to report incidents to the different authorities and will include guidance on MGTI.  Key professional stakeholders will be consulted on the MGTI guidance later this year.

Until then, the advice given by DH in the general guidance document on IR(ME)R should be followed: - ie the term much greater than intended for IR(ME)R 2000 should be interpreted as in the HSE guidance PM77 second edition issued in 1998.

• Care Quality Commission pages on the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 (opens new window)
• email: IRMER@cqc.org.uk (opens new window)
• Health and Safety Executive - PM77 Equipment used in connection with medical exposure - third edition (opens new window)