HIQA Reports A Rise In Radiation Overexposure Incidents in 2024.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has reported an almost 11% increase in cases of radiation overexposure from medical imaging and radiotherapy services in 2024. A total of 145 incidents were notified; the highest number since HIQA became the regulator for medical exposure to ionising radiation some six years ago.

Human error accounted for 68% of cases. The number of incidents has more than doubled since 2019, when 68 cases were reported.

Notifications linked to diagnostic imaging, including X-rays, CT scans, MRI and ultrasound, rose by 19% to 129 last year, while incidents in radiotherapy fell from 23 to 16. Sixty-eight per cent of all cases involved CT scans.

HIQA said more hospitals and healthcare providers are reporting incidents, increasing from 47 to 59. The authority noted that most diagnostic imaging incidents occurred at the point of imaging, often due to incorrect protocol selection, and that many could have been prevented through better verification checks.

HIQA warned that common corrective actions such as staff reminders and education sessions are low-level strategies with limited long-term impact. It urged healthcare providers to address underlying factors such as workload, resources and skill mix.

The full report is available on the HIQA website at www.hiqa.ie.