The SoR welcomes the publication of the IR(ME)R annual report 2024/25 from the Care Quality Commission.
As always, the annual report provides valuable evidence to drive the development of resources aimed at addressing the key points identified by the CQC. SoR endeavours to assist members to meet the requirements of the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 and we appreciate the wealth of information provided in this report.
The report contextualises the outcomes of the IR(ME)R inspection programme and SAUE notifications on a background of extensive pressures and stretched workforce capacity in NHS and independent sector service providers in England.
Optimise future opportunities for learning
We welcome the continued positive reporting culture evidenced by the report and again note the CQC’s recognition of the minimal risk of a notifiable significant accidental or unintended exposure (SAUE) in relation to the number of individual medical ionising radiation exposures being undertaken per year.
While notification reporting is reassuring, the number and nature of near misses and incidents not meeting the notification criteria is less clear. The national patient safety radiotherapy event taxonomy is being used widely to collect both notifiable and non-notifiable incidents but application of the national taxonomy for incident learning in clinical imaging, MRI and nuclear medicine is in its early stages.
We encourage services to explore how they can adopt this national incident classification and pathway coding system to ensure we optimise future opportunities for learning.
Room to improve
As in previous years, while the overall picture is encouraging, there is room to improve in key areas. A particular focus is required on the pathway points where errors seem to recur year on year despite mitigating measures by the SoR such as ‘Paused and Checked’ and educational webinars aimed at areas previously identified for improvement.
We encourage all senior service and quality managers to read the full report and respond to the key actions for employers where relevant.
Anyone working with ionising radiation will benefit from the insight provided by the full report and we expect all registered healthcare professionals and IR(ME)R duty holders to reflect on the findings and recommendations.
By Lynda Johnson, professional officer for clinical imaging and radiation protection