The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018

1.  The employer’s written procedures for exposures must include procedures—

(a) to identify correctly the individual to be exposed to ionising radiation;

(b) to identify individuals entitled to act as referrer or practitioner or operator within a specified scope of practice;

(c) for making enquiries of individuals of childbearing potential to establish whether the individual is or may be pregnant or breastfeeding;

(d) to ensure that quality assurance programmes in respect of written procedures, written protocols, and equipment are followed;

(e) for the assessment of patient dose and administered activity;

(f) for the use and review of such diagnostic reference levels as the employer may have established for radiodiagnostic examinations falling within regulation 3(a), (b), (e) and (f);

(g) for determining whether the practitioner or operator is required to effect one or more of the matters set out in regulation 12(4) including criteria on how to effect those matters and in particular procedures for the use of dose constraints established by the employer for biomedical and medical research programmes falling within regulation 3(c) where no direct medical benefit for the individual is expected from the exposure;

(h) for the giving of information and written instructions as referred to in regulation 12(6);

(i) providing that wherever practicable, and prior to an exposure taking place, the individual to be exposed or their representative is provided with adequate information relating to the benefits and risks associated with the radiation dose from the exposure;

(j) for the carrying out and recording of an evaluation for each exposure including, where appropriate, factors relevant to patient dose;

(k) to ensure that the probability and magnitude of accidental or unintended exposure to individuals from radiological practices are reduced so far as reasonably practicable;

(l) to ensure that the referrer, the practitioner, and the individual exposed or their representative are informed of the occurrence of any relevant clinically significant unintended or accidental exposure, and of the outcome of the analysis of this exposure.

(m) to be observed in the case of non-medical imaging exposures;

(n) to establish appropriate dose constraints and guidance for the exposure of carers and comforters.