The origin and evolution of the READ/REAL project: a national learning initiative of the Royal College of Radiologists.

The Radiology Events and Learning (REAL) initiative is a national project of the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR). The RCR is an international organisation whose members are based throughout the United Kingdom and around the world. The REAL project provides a platform through which radiologists can connect, share experiences, and learn from one another at a national level by disseminating lessons from radiological errors in a psychologically safe environment, with the aim of reducing future incidents and ultimately improving patient safety. This article chronicles the development of the Radiology Events and Discrepancies (READ) project, from its initial conception in 2010-2011 through its launch by the RCR in 2012 and its subsequent evolution into READ and then REAL. It includes a brief review of the literature, outlines the RCR's work on radiological errors before the establishment of READ, and highlights key milestones in the project's development under successive chairs and panel members. In doing so, it recognises the contributions of the RCR, the READ/REAL Panel, and the many members whose cases, articles, and expertise have supported shared learning over the past decade. This project has had contributions from patients as well. This article aims to provide an index of key publications and resources available on the RCR website, serving as a signpost to facilitate members' engagement with its extensive educational and professional content. We believe that the REAL initiative by the RCR is now an established national platform for professional dialogue, fostering shared learning from errors and adverse events.