This tab is for use by registered professionals who refer into our Radiology Service. For legal reasons we are not able to accept referrals from patients.
The Radiology service at the James Paget hospital, and associated Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) at the James Paget and Northgate hospital, offer the following services to referrers in the community;
- Plain film X-ray imaging including a walk in urgent Chest service Monday to Friday 9-5 at the James Paget Community Diagnostic Centre
- CT scanning including national lung screening service at Northgate CDC
- MRI scanning
- Ultrasound, general, gynaecology, MSK and antenatal
- DEXA Bone mineral density scanning
- Breast imaging – breast screening and symptomatic service via urgent referral to the symptomatic breast clinic with the surgical team.
Any studies involving ionising radiation are governed by Ionising Radiation (medical exposure) regulations (IRMER).
A referrer is a medical or dental practitioner, or other registered healthcare professional (working within an agreed scope of practice), who is entitled in accordance with our employer’s procedures to refer individuals for medical exposure to Ionising radiation, as part of a diagnostic or interventional investigation. The main function of the referrer is to supply the practitioner with sufficient medical information to enable justification of the exposure to take place.
The referrer must adhere to their limited referral rights and must also notify Radiology as soon as possible if they want to cancel or amend a referral.
The hospital has 16 local employers’ procedures demonstrating how we manage patients safely within our Trust.
Referrals must;
- Be submitted by the referrer electronically* on ICE (or ERS, in the community). It is a disciplinary offence to share your log in details with anyone. *Paper is accepted from tertiary referral sites and may be used as a contingency during an IT outage.
- Uniquely identify the patient.
- State examination requested and contain sufficient clinical information, including information about previous medical exposures, and clinical diagnosis to enable the exposure to be justified.
- Contain information on pregnancy status if the primary exposure is between the trunk and knees in someone of childbearing potential, between the ages of 12 and 55 years old.
- Contain an electronic signature identifying the referrer - Name and grade also required and contact details
- Conform to the Royal College of Radiologist’s Guidelines - iRefer and local referral guidelines
Because of the regulations, X-ray referrals which do not meet the above requirements have to be returned to the referrer.
All results will be sent back to the Lead consultant/GP for the patient. The named clinician has a duty to ensure the results of the examination are received and acted upon with documentary evidence.
If you are a referrer and not had recent IR(ME)R training or updates you can access an e-learning for health IRMER update via Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations - elearning for healthcare (e-lfh.org.uk)