About us

The British Society of Interventional radiology (BSIR) is the home of image-guided surgery in the UK. We are a charitable foundation founded to promote and develop the practice of Interventional Radiology.

Interventional radiology (IR) is one of the most innovative and fastest-growing specialities in the field of medicine. An interventional radiologist is a doctor who performs image-guided procedures, fully interprets the imaging required to guide and monitor a patient’s response to those procedures and provides pre and post procedural care for our patients. We have been developing innovative alternatives to open surgery since the 1960s but it has really been in the last 20 years that we have seen major advances in what we can achieve, with the development of modern imaging and operative technologies. These allow us to perform the most complex of tasks through a small pinpick in the skin, advancing catheters, guidewires or needles to targets deep inside the body, while avoiding damage to critical surrounding tissues. Our operating theatres contain imaging equipment such as ultrasound machines, X-ray machines and CT scanners so that we can monitor the operation in real time.

Because of this keyhole approach, IR procedures are often termed ‘minimally invasive’ and rightly so. It means patients usually heal from their operation far more speedily, have no obvious scar and can often have pretty complex procedures performed without having to stay longer than a few hours in hospital, meaning that patients can get back to their normal lives more quickly.

IR targets many of today’s toughest medical problems, including vascular disease, many types of cancer and men’s and women’s health conditions with minimal discomfort and unprecedented precision. IR’s culture of continuous innovation has led to development of targeted treatments for virtually every organ system in the body. Innovative treatments developed by interventional radiologists are now used routinely across all fields of medicine.

Definition of IR:

“A clinical doctor who performs image guided procedures, fully interprets the imaging required to guide and monitor response of those procedures, as well as provides the pre and post procedural care for those patients receiving imaged guided surgery procedures.”

The BSIR is a charitable foundation founded to promote and develop the practice of Interventional Radiology.

What are the main objectives of the society?

• To support and develop access to high quality information on Interventional Radiology for patients and all healthcare professionals.
• To support audit and research in Interventional Radiology
• To support education and training in Interventional Radiology

How do we work?

The society is regulated by a constitution, click here to view.  Amendments to this constitution can only be made by a vote at the Annual General Meeting of the society which is open to all members of the society.  The executive committee of the society is the BSIR Council who work to support the aims expressed in the constitution and develop strategic objectives for the society which are annually reviewed.  Day to day decisions are taken by the BSIR Council officers; the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

What is our structure?

How can I become a member?

Full membership is available to any healthcare professional. Full Membership incurs a subscription fee of £260 per annum, Junior Membership £120 per annum and Associate Membership is available to nurses and radiographers who are members of SIRNR £25 per annum. Further information on Membership can be found on the Members page. Please direct any membership enquiries to admin@bsir.org or click 'Apply Now' to become a member now: