Occupational exposure in medicine--a review of radiation doses to hospital staff in north-west England.

Abstract

The personal monitoring service operated by the Regional Physics Department at the Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute, Manchester, monitors staff involved with the uses of ionising radiations at all hospitals and clinics administered by the North Western Region Health Authority in England. Monitoring results relating principally to exposure during 1981 have been collated and examined. The analysis indicates that the doses received by staff are for the most part very low and provide little reason for concern. The only area of work in which worthwhile and cost-effective dose reductions could probably be achieved is that involving the use of pre-loaded applicators in gynaecological intra-cavitary therapy. Some relatively high staff exposures result from the use of this technique, and very significant reductions in these doses are confidently expected from a programme which has now commenced for the increasing use of remotely-controlled after-loading equipment housed in shielded treatment rooms.