IRS is one of the longest standing and largest single radiation protection advisory services in the UK.
We work in partnership with NHS and Private hospitals Nationwide, providing a comprehensive service that addresses all imaging modalities and the evolving needs of a rapidly changing technological sector.
IRS is proud of its close working partnerships with Hospital sites Nationwide, assisting them in meeting their present and future scientific support requirements.
We provide wide-ranging, multi-modality advisory and equipment performance assessment services that enable our customers to meet all of their legal requirements for radiation safety.
IRS is recognised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as an RPA body. We deliver co-ordinated, expert advice under the following roles:
All our RPAs, MPEs and RWAs are accredited by RPA 2000, a recognised accreditation body by the HSE. Furthermore, our experienced team of MPEs are registered as Clinical Scientists by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Our experts advise on all ionising medical applications, including diagnostic radiology, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP).
Each medical application is governed by specific legislation for radiation safety, namely:
IRS is a recognised training provider and proud holders of the Investors In People (IIP) award. We ensure all our scientific and technical staff are trained to the appropriate National standards.
To support our consultancy/advisory functions, IRS has extensive experience in the provision of equipment performance and environmental monitoring surveys. This includes one of the UK’s largest personnel monitoring services.
Over the past 40 years, IRS staff have played a pioneering role in the development of X-ray equipment performance measurements within the UK, as evidenced by our long history of forefront research and scientific publication. During this period, X-ray equipment has undergone significant technological development. However, IRS continues to provide the most up-to-date service, working closely with Hospitals Nationwide.
We provide acceptance testing and routine performance checks on all X-Ray and Nuclear Medicine imaging equipment encountered in healthcare. This includes, though is not limited to:
Through our extensive experience in the field, we can categorise our customers radiation protection requirements in terms of three key stages in the lifetime of any radiation source – Planning, Preparation and Operation.
Planning for the implementation of new radiation sources or medical applications, including liaison with architects or equipment suppliers.
This ensures:
Preparation for the clinical use of new or replacement radiation sources with patients, including equipment commissioning.
This ensures:
Establishing a Personal and Environmental monitoring programme also helps to verify the effectiveness of safety measures employed. IRS is one of the most experienced dosimetry services in the UK. We partner with leading Approved Dosimetry Services (ADS) to deliver comprehensive monitoring using the latest technologies.
For more information, please see our Dosimetry page.
Staff training is also a key component in the preparation for safe use of ionising radiation. IRS can help you train your on-site Radiation Protection Supervisors (RPS), either locally or at our training venue in the heart of Liverpool.
For more information, see our Education and Training pages, where you can also book onto one of our regular courses.
Operation of the radiation source throughout its lifetime until its subsequent decommissioning and replacement.
IRS are available for consultation and support in all aspects of regulatory compliance, including advice on the implementation of a suitable Quality Assurance (QA) programme. We are uniquely placed, with over 30 years experience in the medical sector offering daily support to hospitals nationwide.
Please contact us for our detailed service specifications that cover the full range of our activities in the hospital environment.
IRS is proud of its close working partnerships with Hospital sites Nationwide, assisting them in meeting their present and future scientific support requirements.
We provide wide-ranging, multi-modality advisory and equipment performance assessment services that enable our customers to meet all of their legal requirements for radiation safety.
IRS is recognised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as an RPA body. We deliver co-ordinated, expert advice under the following roles:
IRS has a team of highly experienced Laser Protection Advisers (LPAs), Magnetic Resonance Safety Experts (MRSE) and Ultraviolet Protection Advisers (UVPAs).
All our Laser Protection Advisers (LPA) are accredited by RPA 2000, a recognised accreditation body by the HSE.
Our experts advise on all non-ionising medical applications, including the use of lasers in operating theatres and ophthalmology, Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultraviolet (UV) applications in dermatology.
Each application is governed by specific legislation or guidance for radiation safety, namely:
IRS is a recognised training provider and proud holders of the Investors In People (IIP) award. We ensure all our scientific and technical staff are trained to the appropriate National standards.
To support our consultancy/advisory functions, IRS has extensive experience in the provision of equipment performance monitoring surveys for non-ionising radiations.
Over the past 40 years, IRs staff have been actively involved in the development and application of performance and test methods for non–ionising diagnostic and therapeutic equipment.
This includes:
We provide acceptance testing and routine performance (output) measurements on all types of lasers and ultra-violet treatment units encountered in healthcare. Similarly, both image quality and stray magnetic field measurements can be provided for magnetic resonance imaging units.
Through our extensive experience in the field, we can categorise our customers non-ionising radiation protection requirements in terms of three key stages in the lifetime of any radiation source – Planning, Preparation and Operation.
Planning for the implementation of new radiation sources or medical applications, including liaison with architects or equipment suppliers.
This ensures:
Preparation for the clinical use of new or replacement radiation sources with patients, including involvement in equipment commissioning.
This ensures:
Staff training is also a key component in the preparation for safe use of non-ionising radiation. IRS can help you train your on-site non-ionising Radiation Protection Supervisors.
For more information, see our Education and Training pages, where you can also book onto one of our regular courses.
Operation of the radiation source throughout its lifetime until its subsequent decommissioning and replacement.
IRS are available for consultation and support in all aspects of regulatory compliance. We are uniquely placed, with over 30 years experience in the medical sector to support your hospitals’ daily needs.
Please contact us for our detailed service specifications that cover the full range of our activities in the hospital environment.
Following recent updates to the two key regulations that govern the use of ionising radiation in the medical sector, Quality Assurance (QA) is now a requirement of the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations, whereas previously it was a regulation under the Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR).
The impacts of this change may be summarised:
These changes are welcome as they clarify the role that QA has in the protection of the patient.
Whilst it is the responsibility of the Employer to ensure that a QA programme is in place, the method of QA is not specified by either Regulation. Instead, there is best practice guidance from the professional bodies, such as the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) etc.
To assist our customers, IRS has developed a software-based QA tool named QADRIS to enhance our established advisory capabilities. QADRIS has proven its value in bridging the gap between regulatory requirements and the practicalities of on-site QA, where ease of use is on critical importance.
QADRIS enables Employers to fulfil their legal obligations under IR(ME)R. It also facilitates improvements in on-site QA programmes, offering a straightforward alternative to traditional paper-based methods.
IRS always ensure that QADRIS follows the latest guidance, so engagement with the system means that the QA programme on-site will always be up-to-date.
Importantly, QADRIS provides the user with a management overview of their QA programme. QA Team Leaders/Managers can, at a glance, view overdue QA tests and keep track of any results failures. Information is displayed clearly and effectively in charts and graphs, designed to help track the efficacy of QA programmes over longer periods of time. Trends may be spotted and actions for improvement identified.
IRS are proud to partner with customers that are looking to modernise their QA programme and we have the expertise to assist you in that pursuit.
If you wish to discuss how IRS might help your organisation, or are looking for more information, please see our Contact page for ways to get in touch.
For more information on our extensive research into QA and Dose Optimisation, please check our News page for updates.
IRS provides a wide range of personnel and environmental (e.g. X-ray and Radon) radiation monitoring services. These services will help you monitor the effective and equivalent doses received by any of your staff who may be exposed to ionising radiations.
Where background levels of radiation are a consideration (e.g. in a high radon level area), IRS’s dosimetry monitoring services help employers provide safe working environments for their staff and the general public.
IRS’s dosimetry service is integrated fully with our RPA function. This means that, should you choose IRS as your RPA, we will be fully informed of any untoward dose levels that may occur and can support your practice in dealing with this type of situation immediately. As your RPA, IRS would also offer you comprehensive advice on the most appropriate monitoring regime for your practice.
IRS provides Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dosemeters, Thermo-Luminescent Dosemeters (TLD) and direct-reading electronic dosimeters, with whole body or extremity monitoring available as required. These latter dosemeters are particularly useful when monitoring staff for a limited period of time, i.e. during pregnancy, or in the event that on-going dose reports may be required.
We can also supply passive radon detection monitors. These monitors utilise passive alpha-track detection technology and can monitor atmospheric radon concentrations in the workplace.
Our flexible and competitively-priced personnel monitoring service can supply monitors to be worn for periods of one or two months. Monitors can be supplied continuously, periodically or on a one-off basis. All monitoring services come with the ability to view your dose reports online and are approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Regulation 13 of the Ionising Radiations (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) 2017 requires that employers must collect dose estimates from medical exposures for radiodiagnostic and interventional procedures and, when so requested, they must provide the dose estimates to the Secretary of State. It is also a requirement that Dose Reference Levels (DRLs) are established for common examinations.
IRS has played a pioneering role in the development and implementation of patient dosimetry in the field of diagnostic radiology, with over 40 years experience in this field.
We can provide advice and guidance in:
For more information about IRS’s Dosimetry Services or to place an order, please see our Dosimetry Services page.
IRS is one of the most experienced radiation protection training providers to the healthcare sector in Europe.
We were pioneers in the development of radiation safety training programmes throughout Europe via our leading involvement in the European Education and Training Programme (ERPET), aimed at supporting the implementation of EC Directives in radiation protection. IRS have run radiation protection training courses for nearly 40 years, ranging from basic to postgraduate levels for all users of ionising and non-ionising radiation, irrespective of sector.
IRS courses cover all aspects of radiation protection required by employers in order to fulfil their legal duties under the Ionising Radiations Regulations (IRR) 2017 and the Ionising Radiations (Medical Exposure) Regulations (IR(ME)R) 2017, as well as more general aspects of the Health and Safety at Work Regulations.
For more detailed information on the courses we provide to the healthcare sector, or to book a place at one of our regular events, please see the Education and Training Courses section of our website.