PATIENT DOSE MEASUREMENT AND DOSE REDUCTION IN EAST-ANGLIA (UK)

At the end of 1990 a programme of patient dose measurements was introd uced as part of the quality assurance service already provided for Xra y departments throughout the East Anglian Health Region (UK). Thermolu minescence dosemeters (TLDs) were used to measure over 1200 skin entra nce surface doses for four common radiographic views in 33 hospitals i n both the NHS and private sector. The four views were chosen to cover a wide range of equipment and techniques. The data collected have ena bled Regional reference doses to be set which, for all views considere d, fall below the National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) Refere nce levels. In departments which exceeded reference levels, techniques were reviewed, improvements suggested and doses re-measured, in accor dance with the recommended procedure for patient dose audit. A signifi cant finding was that, given appropriate controls, X ray departments i n the private sector could achieve the same acceptably low doses as NH S departments.