23 May 2024
BIR Endorses New Guidance on National Taxonomy for Incident Learning in Clinical Imaging, MRI, and Nuclear Medicine
London, UK – May 23, 2024– The British Institute of Radiology (BIR) proudly endorses the new guidance published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), aimed at establishing a national taxonomy for incident learning in clinical imaging, MRI, and nuclear medicine. This guidance marks a significant advancement in the UK's healthcare system, providing a voluntary learning framework to support clinical services in reviewing their practices when using both ionising and non-ionising radiation.
The newly endorsed guidance introduces a system for incident and near-miss reporting that is specifically tailored to clinical imaging, MRI, and nuclear medicine. Historically, the UK radiotherapy community has extensively recognized the value of such reporting and the associated learning, however, until now, there has not been a national system designed to analyse and learn from incidents in these specific areas of medical practice.
Peter Hiles, past Chair of the Radiation Safety Special Interest Group, and Helen Hughes, BIR Vice President of External Affairs, represented the BIR in the collaborative effort to support this initiative. The guidance also received endorsements from other prominent societies, including the British Nuclear Medicine Society (BNMS), the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM), the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR), and the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR).
"This new guidance is a milestone in improving patient safety and quality of care in clinical imaging, MRI, and nuclear medicine" said Peter Hiles. "By facilitating a structured approach to incident learning, we can enhance our understanding of risks and develop strategies to mitigate them effectively."
Helen Hughes added "The BIR is committed to promoting excellence in radiology and supporting initiatives that foster continuous improvement. This national taxonomy will not only benefit individual services but also enable the sharing of data and insights on a national scale, ultimately leading to better outcomes for patients".
The full report "User Guidance and Application of the National Taxonomy for Incident Learning in Clinical Imaging, MRI, and Nuclear Medicine" is available for download here.
Above: Helen Hughes
Notes to Editors - About The British Institute of Radiology
The British Institute of Radiology is an international membership organisation for everyone working in imaging, radiation oncology and the underlying sciences.
Our aims are to:
- Support the work of our members and their colleagues to achieve professional excellence
- Provide continuing professional development for our multidisciplinary community
- Publish cutting-edge research for our authors and readers across the world
- Influence and connect with the wider professional sector.
Registered Charity No: 215869
For information about this release please contact:
Carole Cross, Director of Communications and Partnerships
The British Institute of Radiology, Audrey House, 16-20 Ely Place, London EC1N 6SN carole.cross@bir.org.uk www.bir.org.uk Mobile 07963 200147 (out of office hours)
