Legislation

Question 1

what are the 2 legislations in radiology?

Answer 1

IRR 17 ionising radiation regulations

IRMER 17 ionising radiation medical exposure regulations

Question 2

who does IRR 17 protect?

Answer 2

Protects equipment, staff and general public

Question 3

who does IRMER 17 protect?

Answer 3

Protects patients

Question 4

from IRR 17 what do u need to have?

Answer 4

registered to use x-ray equipment

restriction of exposure ALARP

radiation protection advisor

radiation protection supervisor

Question 5

what is the role of radiation protection advisor? what legislation

Answer 5

IRR17

Is external and advises the employer

Need to consult them when planning a new surgery

Establishing a controlled area

Question 6

what is a radiation protection supervisor? what legislation

Answer 6

IRR 17

Ensure compliance of local rules

Every practice must have one

Must be adequately trained

Question 7

from IRMER 17 what do u need to have?

Answer 7

a medical physics expert

Question 8

who can be in the controlled area during exposure?

Answer 8

only the patient

Question 9

what is the role of medical physics expert? what legislation?

Answer 9

IRMER 17

Advise on IRMER compliance

Need to be involved in development and review of all dental procedures

Question 10

the size of the controlled area depends on what?

Answer 10

kV of machine -> 1.5m if under 75kV

Question 11

what is the controlled area for DDH?

Answer 11

2m away or behind appropriate shielding

Question 12

Local rules
- All practices must have written local rules that apply to all employees
- Name of RPA, RPS and MPS
- Name of person with legal responsibility for compliance
- Identification and description of controlled area
- Contingency arrangements if malfunction
- Dose investigation levels results and details
- Personal dosimetry arrangements -> employee exposure
- Arrangements for pregnant staff
- Reminder of IRR obligations displayed by x-ray equipment

Question 13

what are the 4 roles in radiography?

Answer 13

employer
referrer
practitioner
operator

Question 14

what is the role of the employer?

Answer 14

Establish recommendations for selection criteria and radiation dose levels

Ensure clinical evaluations of images are done

Question 15

clinical criteria

Descriptions of clinical conditions derives from patients ?, ? and ? that identify patients that are likely to ? from a particular radiographic technique

Answer 15

signs
symptoms
history
benefit

Question 16

what do clinical evaluations of images look at?

Answer 16

Quality of radiograph, unusual factors relating to dose and exposure to patient

Notes of findings (normal and abnormal)

Question 17

what is the role of the referrer?

Answer 17

Provide practitioner with sufficient information to justify the exposure

State there is a benefit to patient

Signed a request form

Give details to identify patient

Question 18

what is the role of the practitioner?

Answer 18

Takes responsibility for an individual medical exposure (normally dentist)

Question 19

what is the role of the operator

(Remember that an operator may not be entitled to do all of these roles)

Answer 19

Takes the radiographs -> is responsible for them

Processes the films

Clinical evaluation is there role also -> only by those qualified

Question 20

remember A person has to be entitled by their employer to undertake that role

Question 21

what are dental nurses entitled to do?

Answer 21

process radiographs

require additional qualification to take radiographs on “prescription” from a dentist

Question 22

what are dental hygienists and therapists entitled to do?

Answer 22

Can prescribe, take, process and interpret radiographs

limitations are defined by employer

Question 23

what are clinical dental technicians entitled to do?

Answer 23

Can take and process radiographs related to providing removable dental appliances

entitlement as operators

Question 24

what are dentists entitled to do?

Answer 24

referrers, practitioners and operators

Question 25

document

need to have record of what? 3

Answer 25

training
competence
entitlement

signed by duty holder and employer / person u are entitled by

Question 26

document

here is an example form

Question 27

who is a comforter/carer?

Answer 27

Anyone offering assistance to a patient during examination

Question 28

when a comforter/carer is involved

Their potential dose needs to be quantified and considered in justification
Needs to give informed consent

Question 29

what is Duty of Candour legislation

Answer 29

Tell a patient if something needs to be repeated or has gone wrong

Should also inform the referrer

Question 30

Training
Refresher radiation training required -> repeat training regularly

It is part of CPD so dental team tend to follow repeat training