QUALITY ASSURANCE IN RADIOTHERAPY - THE IMPORTANCE OF MEDICAL PHYSICSSTAFFING LEVELS - RECOMMENDATIONS FROM AN ESTRO EFOMP JOINT TASK GROUP/

The safe application of ionising radiation for diagnosis and therapy r equires a high level of knowledge of the underlying processes and of q uality assurance. Sophisticated modem equipment can be used effectivel y for complicated diagnostic and therapeutic techniques only with adeq uate physics support. In the light of recent analyses and recommendati ons by national and international societies a joint working group of r epresentatives from ESTRO (European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology) and from EFOMP (European Federation of Organisations for Medical Physics) was set up to assess the necessary staffing levels f or physics support to radiotherapy. The method used to assess the staf fing levels, the resulting recommendations and examples of their pract ical application are described.