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Publications and standards

RCR guidance and standards cover a wide range of topics including the delivery of high-quality radiology services, guidance on good practice, use of information technology resources and workforce reports. Electronic copies of the majority of our publications are available to download free of charge. 

All of our guidance and standards are drafted by working parties including Fellows and members of the RCR.

Publications are reviewed regularly by the Clinical Radiology Professional Support and Standards Board to ensure that they remain relevant and up to date.

If you need further help please contact us by emailing: publications@rcr.ac.uk.

Clinical radiology publications 2017

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MRI provision for cauda equina syndrome -

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Current
The Clinical Imaging Board (CIB) representing The Royal College of Radiologists, The Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine and The Society and College of Radiographers, have developed the guidance MRI provision for cauda equina syndrome . The guidance acknowledges the recommendations from the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB) report which highlighted the continued clinical risks to patients from the poor provision of MRI services for cauda equina syndrome. It was produced in close collaboration with GIRFT spinal services and sets the service standards for MRI provision...
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Computed tomography colonography and lower gastrointestinal cancer pathways - Planning for the next decade -

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Current
This document represents a vision for future development of NHS CTC services and has been produced as a multidisciplinary collaboration between the British Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (BSGAR), The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), the Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR), the Gastro Intestinal Radiographers Special Interest Group (GIRSIG) and other stakeholders including the National CT Colonography Training and Accreditation Programme and the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland (ACPGBI). It outlines the key components required of CTC...
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Radiology reporting figures for service planning 2022 -

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Current
Guidance and tools to assist services with resource planning and to establish methods for calculating service capacity.
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Clinical radiology job planning guidance for consultant and SAS doctors 2022 -

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Current
Workforce pressures in clinical radiology (CR) have continued to grow, with more clinical radiologists retiring early or working less than full-time (LTFT), and the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the workplace forever. In this context, the job planning process is more important than ever to ensure hospitals support a workforce that is able to deliver the excellent clinical care to which we all aspire. This document aims to provide clear direction on how radiologists should aim to work in a supportive environment. It is hoped that this document will provide clear advice for every consultant and...
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Recommendations on alerts and notification of imaging reports -

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Current
The main objective of this guidance is to ensure prompt and effective imaging result notification and its subsequent action to protect patient safety. It has been developed through a collaborative effort from a multidisciplinary working group including The Royal College of Radiologists, The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, The Society of Radiographers, The Royal College of Physicians, The Royal College of Emergency Medicine, The Royal College of General Practitioners, The Royal College of Surgeons, The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and NHS Digital.
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Evidence-based indications for the use of PET-CT in the United Kingdom 2022 -

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Current
These guidelines mark the 30th anniversary of clinical positron emission tomography (PET) in the UK. Since its introduction into the UK clinical practice in 1992 by Professor Michael Maisey, PET, followed by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), has become a key multimodality molecular imaging technique in the assessment of a wide range of medical conditions. Now in its fourth edition, this 2022 document provides updated indications with key references underpinning the use of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and non-FDG PET-CT tracers in malignant and non-malignant diseases in...
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Professional duty of candour – Guidance for radiologists -

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The Faculty of Clinical Radiology has developed this document with the aim of providing radiologists with guidance and real-world examples on the implementation of the duty of candour. The document recognises the unique circumstances faced by radiologists and all who work in imaging. It is not possible to provide guidance for every situation, but the aim is to provide an approach which will help colleagues navigate an unfamiliar process in the best possible way for our patients and the professionals who care for them.
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Standards for the education and training of reporting practitioners in musculoskeletal plain radiographs -

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Current
This joint publication from the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) and College of Radiographers (CoR) defines the education and training required for all members of the multi-professional team who report MSK plain radiographs. This includes the learning outcomes to be achieved, minimum requirements for assessment, and recommendations on how education programmes for MSK plain film reporters should be designed and structured. This document will support effective team working in the delivery of clinical imaging services by ensuring that all members of the multi-professional team reporting MSK...
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Implementing Ordercomms (electronic requesting) in radiology -

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The use of electronic requesting for diagnostic imaging tests continues to increase across the healthcare landscape. In order to maintain the core benefits of paperless requesting, build additional value for staff and patients, and avoid new risks, it is vital that radiologists and other radiology staff work closely with clinical and IT colleagues in the procurement, implementation and ongoing deployment of these systems and their interfaces with other hospital systems. Ease of use and fast, effective two-way communication between the referring clinician and the radiology department remain...
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Radiology reporting networks – Understanding the technical options - BFCR(22)2

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Current
This document specifies what imaging departments could link to a radiology (image and report sharing) network. It has been written by NHS radiologists with the help of industry experts; the detail is beyond what most radiologists will require but hopefully it will be of use to clinical PACS leads, PACS and IT teams when they begin to procure standards-based, vendor-neutral, seamlessly interoperable network radiology platforms (NRPs).

Standards

View the RCR's standards documents covering a range of topics

IT Guidance

List of the guidance relating to information technology (IT) and radiology

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Current clinical radiology guidance projects

We’re committed to developing a wide range of guidance that supports good practice in radiology and service delivery – and reflects the changing healthcare landscape.