Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations

This guidance document is intended to provide a practical approach to implementing the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R) for all staff groups delivering a range of radiotherapy services including molecular radiotherapy (MRT). This guidance also applies to the implementation of the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018 and any reference to IR(ME)R can be taken to refer to these regulations also, unless specifically stated. Within the UK, responsibility for healthcare is devolved and different approaches may be taken in each of the four nations.

This document refers to radiotherapy in general, but where requirements or practice differ between external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy or MRT this is stated. Typical scenarios and examples have been included to provide practical advice on aspects of the regulations. These are taken from information provided to the working party by several departments and are not intended to be prescriptive. A glossary of terms is included in Appendix 1. This document should be read in conjunction with IR(ME)R and other published guidance.