Two Cork hospitals compliant with ionising radiation rules

Two inspection reports assessing compliance with medical-exposure-to-ionising radiation regulations in Cork facilities showed high levels of compliance.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) published 14 inspection reports on Tuesday, including for the Mater Private, Cork, and inspectors observed several examples of good practice in the medical facilities and efforts to ensure safe and optimised medical exposures for service users.

These included the integration of the radiology clinical audit strategy in to the hospital’s wider networked group audit strategy, further promoting the safe delivery of radiological services in the Mater Private, Cork.

Overall, the Mater Private, Cork was compliant in 14 areas and substantially compliant in one — justification of medical exposures — with no non-compliances.

The Hiqa report noted that while the required information was included on most of the reviewed referral records, the reason for the medical-exposure request and sufficient medical data were not included on all referral records for medical exposures, in particular for exposures conducted in the theatre department.

Bantry General Hospital was also inspected by Hiqa, and was found compliant in 11 regulations and substantially compliant in four: Undertaking, responsibilities of medical physics experts, involvement of medical physics experts in medical radiological practices, and diagnostic reference levels. Overall, inspectors found that measures implemented since the previous inspection had successfully improved compliance with three regulations.

However, documentation outlining radiology governance, which was provided to inspectors beforehand, did not fully align with what was described by staff during the inspection, and gaps in document management identified during the previous inspection required further action.

Inspectors also observed that CT diagnostic references (DRL) for 2024 were well below national levels and this was highlighted as an issue to be looked at.

The HSE noted: “This Hiqa evaluation drew attention to the need for training.”

It said that a new series of training staff started shortly after the inspection took place.

Additionally, a new DRL policy had been approved and was set to be implemented, with an audit to be undertaken to ensure diagnostic value of CT scans has not been compromised by the low dose levels seen in this service.