Get in touch 020 7042 1888

Patient login
Practitioner login
Imaging Clinic in London
Contact

Referral and Regulatory Compliance Guidelines

The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (IR(ME)R) and guidance issued by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) set out statutory requirements for organisations and individuals involved in procedures using ionising and non-ionising radiation.

Oryon Imaging is committed to ensuring that all duty holders fully understand and discharge their responsibilities under IR(ME)R 2017. These regulations establish mandatory safeguards to protect patients from unnecessary or excessive radiation exposure and define specific duties for Employers, Practitioners, Operators and Referrers. Oryon Imaging supports the safe, justified and optimised use of diagnostic imaging in accordance with these requirements.

Referrer Responsibilities

Clinical information
Referrers must provide sufficient, accurate and relevant clinical information to enable justification of the examination. This is a legal requirement under IR(ME)R 2017 and is essential to ensure the correct examination, protocol and imaging views are selected to address the clinical question.
Patient identification

Referrers must ensure adequate information is provided to correctly identify the intended patient. Oryon Imaging requires a minimum of three unique patient identifiers (e.g. full name, date of birth, address/postcode, mobile number), together with details of the requested examination and anatomical side where applicable. This supports safe patient identification and reduces the risk of error during booking and scanning.

Patient discussion and pregnancy status
Referrers are responsible for discussing the proposed examination with the patient or their guardian, including benefits and risks. Referrers must also consider the possibility of pregnancy in patients of reproductive age, including patients registered female at birth, and document this appropriately.

Urgent and Critical Findings

Oryon Imaging operates extended hours, and urgent or critical findings may be identified at any time. Where a reporting radiologist identifies findings that may pose an immediate risk to patient health, timely communication is essential. Referrers must therefore provide appropriate contact details, including a mobile number or out-of-hours contact, to enable direct communication if required.
Clinic operational hours
  • Monday–Friday: 08:00–23:00
  • Saturday: 08:00–22:00
  • Sunday: 08:00–20:00

Referral Standards and Professional Guidance

The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) referral guidelines are available at www.irefer.org.uk and should be used to support appropriate imaging requests.
All referral forms must be signed and dated by an authorised referrer. Failure to do so may result in delays to booking. Oryon Imaging aligns its referral processes with RCR guidance and IR(ME)R 2017 to ensure best practice and regulatory compliance.

Self-Referral and Close Personal Relationships

The General Medical Council (GMC) – Good Medical Practice (2024) states that clinicians should, wherever possible, avoid providing medical care to themselves or individuals with whom they have a close personal relationship. In line with this guidance, Oryon Imaging does not accept self-referrals or referrals for immediate family members (including spouses, children, parents/in-law and siblings). Responsibility for compliance with GMC guidance remains with the referring clinician.

Considerations to Minimise Radiation Exposure

Referrers should, where clinically appropriate:
  • Consider radiation-free alternatives such as Ultrasound or MRI
  • Confirm that the examination is clinically justified and likely to influence patient management
  • Avoid duplicate imaging by checking whether relevant examinations have already been performed

Imaging with Intravenous Contrast

For examinations requiring IV contrast:
  • eGFR results must be provided for high-risk patients, including all patients over 65 (within the last 3 months) and patients with known renal impairment (within the last 7 days)
  • IV contrast is only administered to patients aged 18 years and over

MRI Safety Requirements

Referrers must assess and document potential MRI contraindications, including (but not limited to): cardiac pacemakers or pacing wires, cerebral aneurysm clips, cochlear implants, neuro- or bio-stimulators, metal implants, history of penetrating eye injuries, or attached medical devices. Full implant details (make, model, manufacturer and serial number) must be provided with the referral.
Pregnancy and MRI
MRI in pregnancy must only proceed following discussion of risks and benefits with the patient and in consultation with a radiologist. Oryon Imaging does not scan patients during the first trimester. For patients beyond the first trimester undergoing MRI on a 1.5T scanner, written confirmation from the referring clinician is required confirming that the benefits outweigh the risks to both patient and foetus.
Recent surgery
For patients who have undergone surgery within the previous six weeks, written confirmation from the referring clinician is required before proceeding with MRI on a 1.5T scanner, in accordance with organisational policy.
Reviewed by: E. Ruthnam and G. Sampson-Hudson
Date: August 2025