What you need to know about radiation……
This information has been approved by clinical and scientific staff from the following hospitals:
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust North Cumbria Integrated Cares NHS Trust
North Tees & Hartlepool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust South Tyneside & Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
The purpose of this leaflet is to explain the potential risks from the kind of radiation used in X-ray imaging. It does not apply to other kinds of imaging such as ultrasound imaging and MRI imaging. This is a new initiative in 2018 following changes in radiation safety laws.
Why am I having an X-ray?
X-ray examinations have many uses including
- To help find out what is wrong with you
- To check on progress of an illness or injury
- To help carry out an internal procedure as part of your treatment
- To provide your doctor with other clinical information
Your healthcare team have recommended that an X-ray will be of benefit to you, and the request has been checked by specially trained staff that it is the right one for you and your condition. When deciding on whether an X-ray is required (and what kind), the healthcare professionals involved always check that the benefit of having the X-ray is greater than the risk.
X-ray examinations use a beam of electromagnetic radiation to see inside your body. The radiation does not stay inside you or make you radioactive. It is the same radiation as light and radio waves, but has a higher energy and is capable of causing a process known as ionisation.
Are there any risks in using ionising radiation?
Ionising radiation can cause cell damage that may after many years or decades, turn cancerous.
We are all at risk of developing cancer during our lifetime. The normal risk is that this will happen to about 50% of people at some point in their life (1 in 2). We are also all exposed to background radiation every day. The table below tells you how much radiation you are likely to get from different types of X-ray examination, compared to other every day activities, and how this may affect your cancer risk.
Further risk comparisons can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ionising-radiation-dose-comparisons/ionising-radiation-dose-comparisons
What if I may be pregnant?
Exposure of an unborn baby to ionising radiation may cause a slight increase in their cancer risk. For this reason, X-ray examination of the abdomen or pelvic area are usually avoided when pregnancy is possible or confirmed, unless the risk of not performing the X-ray is greater. You must tell your healthcare team if there is any possibility of you being pregnant.
X-rays of parts of the body well away from the abdomen such as limbs (arms and legs) and dental X-rays do not give any increased risk to an unborn baby
What about children?
Long term effects from ionising radiation can take many years to come about. The risk of long term effects is increased slightly in younger people because they have more time left for them to develop. The healthcare team take account of this when deciding if a child needs an X-ray examination, and the amount of radiation used is kept as low as possible.
What if I don’t have the examination?
The risk of not having the examination is that it may not be possible to find out what is wrong with you, or how best to treat you. You should discuss any concerns you may have with your healthcare team.
What if I have more questions?
Please talk to your doctor or any of the team carrying out your X-ray if you would like to discuss any of this information further.
Information produced by:
Northern Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering,
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;
Reviewed Feb 2022: Next review date Feb 2024
Confidentiality
‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.
For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:
Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961
Feedback
We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:
pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818
If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:
complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302