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Date: 21 December 2024
Time: 14:05
RRPPS History
Although Wilhem Roentgen discovered X-rays in 1896, it was a Birmingham surgeon, Major John Hall-Edwards, who first applied the new technology to medical treatment in the UK. At this time the effect of exposure to radiation was unknown. Along with Marie Curie, Hall-Edwards became one of the first X-ray martyrs. In 1908, his left hand and arm were amputated, and he later lost the fingers of his right hand. It was appropriate then that a radiation protection service should have started in Birmingham. 
- In 1949 the service began on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site, and a small hospital personal monitoring service commenced
- In 1960 the service became known as the Regional Radiation Protection Service, implementing the Code of Practice for the Protection of Persons Exposed to Ionising Radiations for the majority of staff in the West Midlands
- In 1972 the first computer was introduced to maintain dose records
- In 1980 the service expanded its role and became known as the Regional Radiation Physics & Protection Service (RRPPS)
- In 1982 the service relocated to purpose built laboratories on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site and the Instrument Calibration Service was established
- In 1983 support to laser users began
- 1985 saw the introduction of the Ionising Radiations Regulations
- In 1998 support for MRI began
- In 2000 the department was accredited to ISO standard 9001:2000 with continued registration through to ISO 9001:2015
- 2008 saw the introduction of the photometer calibration service
- In 2009 RRPPS relocated to Melchett Road in Kings Norton and the whole body TLD service began
- 2016 ADS online service began
The RRPPS, as it became known, relocated to purpose-built laboratories in 1982 and expanded to become the largest NHS provider of personal dosimetry in the UK. Dose records are maintained for more than 80,000 radiation workers.
RRPPS has since moved to new, purpose-built premises in Kings Norton away from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham site.RRPPS employers over thirty staff, compromising clerical officers, clinical technologists and clinical scientists, to cover protection of ionising and non-ionising radiation, providing guidance, interpretation and training for implementation of new regulations, personal monitoring and an instrument calibration service.
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