HIQA publishes three reports on Clontarf Chiropractic compliances

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published three reports of inspections assessing compliance with medical exposure to ionising radiation regulations at Clontarf Chiropractic.

According to HIQA: “Medical exposure to ionising radiation is when radiation is used as part of diagnosis such as an X-ray or CT scan, or the use of radiotherapy as part of cancer treatment at a hospital.

“It also includes radiation received for medical research purposes and radiation received by carers and comforters while attending to a patient.”

Three risk-based inspections were carried out between December 2019 and March 2021 after Owgar Limited, which operates as Clontarf Chiropractic, submitted a self-assessment questionnaire to HIQA that identified areas of non-compliance.

“These non-compliances related to the absence of key personnel required for the conduct of medical exposures as required by the regulations,” says the health quality authority.

“During the first unannounced inspection in December 2019, these findings of non-compliances were validated on inspection.

“A further inspection in September 2020 found that while Owgar Limited had taken some immediate action to address the non-compliances identified on inspection, including the temporary closure of the service until such time as a registered radiographer was employed to take X-rays, inspectors were not satisfied that full compliance was addressed in a timely manner.

“Following this inspection, a decision was taken to issue HIQA’s first enforcement order under Section 26 of the European Union (Basic Safety Standards for Protection against Dangers Arising from Medical Exposure to Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2018 and 2019.

“A compliance notice was issued to Owgar Limited directing it to comply with key regulations relating to governance responsibility, assignment of trained and recognised professionals within the service to include a referrer, practitioner and medical physics expert and the establishment of diagnostic reference levels for typical X-ray examinations by January 22, 2021.”

HIQA says that a follow up inspection in March 2021 verified that Owgar Limited addressed the non-compliances and had “taken considerable action to come into compliance with the regulations.

“Actions taken by Owgar Limited included the engagement of additional expertise within the service, to include a registered medical physics expert and a registered radiologist.

“Overall, Owgar Limited had provided an assurance to HIQA that it had adhered to the directions of the compliance notice.”