An estimation of doses received by patients in a diagnostic x-ray department

This article describes a method of estimating the effective dose equivalent received by patients undergoing (non-fluoroscopic) diagnostic x-ray examinations. This allows those clinically or physically directing exposures to comply with the requirement, item 3, in the core knowledge contained in the schedule of the health and safety document number 778. The method described can be carried out without the use of expensive equipment or time consuming procedures and is based on the data contained in the publication NRPB R200. This method does not conflict with that described by Shrimpton in Radiography Today but is an alternative approach.