HIQA publishes new guidelines on the use of procedures that involve ionising radiation for the early detection of disease in people with no known disease or symptoms

25 November 2025: The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published new national guidelines on the use of medical radiological procedures, such as X-rays and CT scans for the early detection of disease, in people who have no signs or symptoms of that disease and where they are not part of a health screening programme.

Under Irish law, HIQA must issue guidance on the safe and appropriate use of medical radiological procedures for the early detection of disease outside national screening programmes. While the risks are generally considered to be low, all medical exposures to ionising radiation carry some risk, so ensuring the benefits outweigh the risks (a process known as justification) is essential.