Meeting Report - SRP Special focus session at the UK Radiological Congress 2004, 7 June 2004

The annual UK Radiological Congress is the major meeting for all those involved in Radiology. It attracts attendees from all of the different staff groups involved: namely radiologists, radiographers and physicists. Every other year it also covers radiation oncology; 2004 being one of those years. This year it was held at the beginning of June in the new Manchester International Convention Centre in the very centre of the city.

SRP were invited to put together a programme for a half day session covering issues in radiation protection of interest to the range of specialities represented at the conference. This was one of several parallel sessions on the second day of the congress. A small but varied audience chose to come to listen to a range of speakers from industry, the regulators and the health service.

Colin Martin, a medical physicist from Glasgow, started the proceedings (somewhat early at 8.30am) with an overview of the management of radiation protection in diagnostic radiology departments. He covered the arrangements for both IRR99 and IRMER explaining the pivotal role of the Radiation Safety Committee, and then outlined typical arrangements involved when planning and commissioning a new room.

John Croft from the NRPB then reported on international (UNSCEAR) and European (ESOREX) surveys of occupational dose which indicate a greater range of dose than expected with several European countries having significant numbers of medical workers in the higher dose bands (>20mSv) compared to the UK. He also reported from a recent European workshop (European ALARA Network) which had made some recommendations (see http://ean.cepn.asso.fr) aimed at improving the situation.

Following on the theme, Stuart Hughes, also from NRPB, presented medical sector occupational dose data from the UK based on a 1999 survey and provisional results from 2001. Since this data was first collected in 1984 there has been a marked decrease in dose from radiotherapy practice but an increase in dose received by those working in nuclear medicine.

Colin Partington gave a talk on the significant progress in bringing doses down within the British Nuclear Group (previously known to us as BNFL); an entertaining insight into a very different industry.

Mark Singleton, a medical physicist based in Sheffield, presented results from an HSE backed survey he had carried out on doses received by members of the public assisting patients who where exposed to ionising radiation, either from diagnostic tests or for therapeutic purposes. In particular he assessed whether such people need to be classed as “comforters and cares” under the requirements of IRR99. The only area of work likely to make use of this term appears to be within nuclear medicine for people providing support to patients receiving therapy level doses.

Lastly, Mike Nettleton, an HSE specialist inspector, outlined the draft document, HSG226, providing guidance on Reg 31 and 32 for medical equipment. This guidance was intended to expand and tighten previous guidance provided under IRR85 (PM77). It was clear to the audience that much of the content of the guidance would have been a welcome addition. It had undergone 2 consultations and was in the process of being worked up into the final document when the HSE issued a moratorium on guidance provision. It now looks exceedingly unlikely to see the light of day, at least as an HSE publication. However, the Mr Nettleton did state that it is likely to be used as internal technical policy within the HSE and there still remains a need to communicate this to users.

Anne Walker