Guidance on medical physics expert support for nuclear medicine

The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations require employers to appoint suitable medical physics experts (MPE) for nuclear medicine services, and they also define the areas where MPEs are required to provide advice and specify matters that they must contribute towards. Applications for em...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of radiology 2022-07, Vol.95 (1135), p.20211393-20211393
Main Authors: Fraser, Louise, Parkar, Nasreen, Adamson, Kathryn, Fletcher, Alison, Julyan, Peter, Kalirai, Charnie, McGowan, Daniel, McKiddie, Fergus
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Humans
Muscle Spasticity
Nuclear Medicine
Physics
Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
Spinocerebellar Ataxias - congenital
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations require employers to appoint suitable medical physics experts (MPE) for nuclear medicine services, and they also define the areas where MPEs are required to provide advice and specify matters that they must contribute towards. Applications for employer licences under IR(ME)R require employers to specify the level of MPE support available and if this is provided by onsite MPEs or remotely. Assessment of these applications by the Administration of Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee (ARSAC) has highlighted variability in the levels of MPE support being provided for similar services across the UK. A working party including representatives from IPEM, ARSAC, BIR and BNMS was formed and has produced these recommendations on MPE support. Nuclear medicine services were divided into seven broad categories and MPE support for each category has been considered. However, some services that differ from the scenarios provided in this guidance may require different levels of MPE support. Positron emission tomography (PET)/CT and gamma camera imaging have been considered separately here, although it is recognised that both PET/CT and gamma cameras are often sited within the same department in many centres. The separation has been done for pragmatic purposes, as there are felt to be sufficient differences in the MPE role requirements. This guidance sets out recommendations for MPE support, and broader physics support, to run a safe nuclear medicine service and defines the responsibilities of these staff for a range of clinical nuclear medicine services. The recommendations on MPE support made are advice, but will assist employers in meeting regulatory requirements.
ISSN:0007-1285
1748-880X
DOI:10.1259/bjr.20211393