Ionising radiation - What is an undertaking

John Tuffy, HIQA Regional Manager (Ionising Radiation) outlines the responsibilities placed on the providers of medical exposures or ‘undertakings’ as defined in the legislation. There is also a requirement for each undertaking to declare their existence within 3 months of commencement of the legislation.
Identification of the undertaking with responsibility for medical radiological procedures will ensure that regulatory communications between HIQA and each undertaking occur at the appropriate level within the service.
This information means that HIQA will always be able to communicate with the legal entity (the undertaking responsible for providing medical radiological procedures).
Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom was transposed into Irish law as European Union (Basic Safety Standards for Protection Against Dangers Arising from Medical Exposure to Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2018.
The regulations define new minimum safety requirements to protect individuals from hazards associated with medical exposures to ionising radiation.
A medical exposure to ionising radiation is when a patient receives ionising radiation as part of their diagnosis or treatment. It also includes exposure to radiation for medical or biomedical research purposes as well as carers and comforters exposed to ionising radiation while attending a patient.
For more information on responsibilities of an undertaking in this legislation, visit www.hiqa.ie.