Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that patient radiation safety will not be compromised by less regulation of UK healthcare establishments providing patient care when compared to patients in Europe, once the UK has left Euratom.

To ensure patient radiation safety in United Kingdom healthcare establishments, the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 will come into force on 6 February 2018. These Regulations implement the medical exposure aspects of a European Directive (2013/59/Euratom) and provide regulation of medical exposures within the UK to the same standards as those of other European Union Member States. The Directive, and these Regulations, are not expected to be revised in the next 15 years.

The Government is fully aware of the importance of medical radioisotopes and the reliance on nuclear medicine for diagnostic procedures in the National Health Service. The UK’s ability to import medical isotopes from Europe and the rest of the world will not be affected by withdrawal from Euratom. It is in the interest of both the UK and EU to avoid disruption in the timely access of treatment to patients; and to ensure that cross-border trade with the EU is frictionless as possible. This will be part of the broader negotiations of the UK’s future relations with the EU.