Regular dosimetric auditing is vital in ensuring accurate radiation dose delivery in external beam radiotherapy. The department has identified a gap in regulatory controls in respect of dosimetric auditing of linear accelerators used in radiotherapy. In order to address this regulatory gap the department has developed new dosimetric auditing requirements which have been specified in the document Requirements for independent dosimetric auditing of linear accelerators.
Following a consultation period in late 2016, the document was applied as a condition of a management licence in July 2017. Management licence holders are now required to ensure that the dose delivery performance of linear accelerators is audited at a specified frequency by an independent audit service provider recognised by the department.
The auditors recognised by the department have been listed in Appendix A of the document. In order to maximise the effectiveness of the audits it is recommended that sites that have previously been audited by an auditor recognised by the department continue to be audited as per the auditor’s auditing schedule.
Recommended audit sequence
For newly constructed sites it is recommended that the audits be performed in the following sequence:
| Year | Audit description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Level Ib audit on all linear accelerators and level III on at least one linear accelerator at a site |
| 2 | Level I audit on all linear accelerators |
| 3 | Level II audit on at least one linear accelerator at a site |
| 4 | Level I audit on all linear accelerators |
| 5 | Level III audit on at least one linear accelerators at a site |
| 6 | Level I audit on all linear accelerators |
| 7 | Level II audit on at least one linear accelerator at a site |
Frequently asked questions
Updated