IR(ME)R annual report 2023/24

Statutory instrument review

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) must review the regulations every 5 years. The first post-implementation review was undertaken in 2023 and the recommendations from the review have been published. DHSC is currently working to implement these recommendations.

IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission to the UK

In 2019, the Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy invited the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on behalf of the UK government, to carry out a peer review of the UK’s regulatory infrastructure for nuclear, radiation, radioactive waste, and transport safety. This mission was to evaluate the UK’s regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety against the IAEA safety standards.

This involved government bodies, such as the Department of Health and Social Care, advisory bodies, such as UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA), as well as 15 regulatory bodies including CQC, and took place over 2 weeks in October 2019. The report was published in July 2020, detailing the findings in relation to each standard and giving recommendations and suggestions for improving regulatory oversight.

The IAEA returned in January 2024 to complete a peer review of the UK’s progress against the 2019 Mission. This involved a self-assessment and interviews with representatives from CQC. The report of the review is due to be published in 2024.

Committees and liaison

Our IR(ME)R team continues to provide support and involvement in several committees and groups across both imaging and radiotherapy. This includes liaison with other agencies and regulatory bodies, including:

• Medical Radiation Liaison Group (MRLG), which includes regulatory and government bodies involved in medical exposures across the UK and is chaired by UKHSA Medical Exposures Group
• Clinical Imaging and Radiotherapy Boards that involve the professional bodies in England such as the Society of Radiographers (SoR), the Royal College of Radiologists and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM).
• Special interest groups led by the British Institute of Radiology and IPEM, which include radiotherapy, nuclear medicine, diagnostic radiology and radiation protection
• regular meetings with SoR, IPEM and UK Health Security Agency to discuss topical issues and contribute to working parties.

Heads of European Radiological Competent Authorities

CQC maintains a role within working parties at Heads of European Radiological Competent Authorities (HERCA) meetings.

HERCA is a voluntary association in which the Heads of Radiation Protection Authorities work together to identify common issues and propose practical solutions. HERCA is working on topics generally covered by provisions of the EURATOM Treaty. The programme of work of HERCA is based on common interest in significant regulatory issues.

Updating our guidance

Together with our IR(ME)R colleagues of the devolved administrations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, we published updated guidance on what constitutes a notifiable incident under IR(ME)R in April 2023. However, we have found some inconsistencies with the interpretation of the guidance and a need for more clarification.

We have supported services where needed and have reviewed the current guidance, which will be updated where needed and published on our website.