HSE in breach of X-ray rules for patients

REGULATIONS designed to protect patients from overexposure to radiation during procedures such as X-rays and mammograms have been breached by the Health Service Executive.

The regulations include provision for a clinical audit of all radiological equipment in use in health and dental facilities. Under EU legislation transposed into Irish law (Statutory Instrument 478) in October 2002, the first such clinical audit should have taken place in October 2007. It was not until December 2007 that a questionnaire was sent out by the HSE to public hospitals to self-audit the relevant installations. Dental practices have yet to be audited.

A taskforce set up by the HSE to oversee the implementation of the legislation found the Dental Council largely responsible for the delay. Both councils should have produced criteria for audit by October 2004. The Dental Council failed to do so until last year.