A-Z
Topics
Latest
A
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Abortion care
- Accident prevention (see unintentional injuries among under-15s)
- Acute coronary syndromes: early management
- Acute coronary syndromes: secondary prevention and rehabilitation
- Acute heart failure
- Acute hospitals (adult inpatient wards), safe staffing for nursing
- Acute hospitals (adult inpatient wards), safe staffing for nursing
- Acute kidney injury
- Acute myocardial infarction (see acute coronary syndromes: early management)
- Acute pancreatitis (see pancreatitis)
- Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding
- Acutely ill patients in hospital
- ADHD (see attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
- Adult carers (see supporting adult carers)
- Advanced breast cancer
- Adverse drug reactions (see drug allergy)
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Aggression and violence
- Agoraphobia (see panic disorder)
- Air pollution
- Alcohol-use disorders
- Allergy, drug (see drug allergy)
- Allergy, food (see food allergy in children and young people)
- Allergy, severe reaction (see anaphylaxis)
- Alzheimer's disease (see dementia)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (see motor neurone disease)
- Anaemia management in people with chronic kidney disease
- Anaphylaxis: assessment and referral after emergency treatment
- Ankylosing spondylitis (see spondyloarthritis)
- Anorexia (see eating disorders)
- Antenatal and postnatal mental health
- Antenatal care for uncomplicated pregnancies
- Antibiotic prescribing for diabetic foot infections (see foot care for people with diabetes)
- Antibiotic prescribing for pneumonia
- Antibiotics for early-onset neonatal infection (see early-onset neonatal infection)
- Antibiotics in respiratory tract and ear infections
- Antimicrobial prescribing for common infections
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Antimicrobials for bites and stings
- Antimicrobials for bronchiectasis (non-cystic fibrosis)
- Antimicrobials for cellulitis and erysipelas
- Antimicrobials for impetigo
- Antimicrobials for leg ulcer infection
- Antimicrobials for prostatitis
- Antisocial behaviour and conduct disorders in children and young people
- Antisocial personality disorder (see personality disorders)
- Anxiety (see generalised anxiety disorder)
- Aortic aneurysm, abdominal
- Aortic aneurysms
- Arthritis, osteoarthritis
- Arthritis, rheumatoid
- Asthma
- Atopic dermatitis (see eczema)
- Atopic eczema (see eczema)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Attachment difficulties in children and young people
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Axial spondyloarthritis (see spondyloarthritis)
- Back pain, low
- Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia in under 16s
- Barrett’s oesophagus
- Bed sores (see pressure ulcers)
- Bedwetting in children and young people
- Behaviour change
- Behaviour that challenges and learning disabilities
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (see lower urinary tract symptoms in men)
- Bipolar disorder
- Bites and stings – antimicrobial prescribing
- Blackouts (see transient loss of consciousness)
- Bladder cancer
- Bladder infection (see urinary tract infections)
- Blood and bone marrow cancers
- Blood and immune system conditions
- Blood poisoning
- Blood pressure, high (see hypertension)
- Blood transfusion
- Body dysmorphic disorder (see obsessive-compulsive disorder)
- Borderline personality disorder (see personality disorders)
- Bowel cancer (see colorectal cancer)
- Bowel cancer prevention (see colonoscopic surveillance)
- Bowel incontinence (see faecal incontinence)
- Brain cancer (see brain tumours and metastases)
- Brain tumours and metastases
- Breast cancer, advanced
- Breast cancer, early and locally advanced
- Breast cancer, familial
- Breast conditions
- Breast milk, donor banks
- Breastfeeding (see maternal and child nutrition)
- Bronchiectasis (non-cystic fibrosis) – antimicrobial prescribing
- Bronchiolitis in children
- Bulimia (see eating disorders)
- Caesarean section
- Cancer of unknown primary origin (see metastatic malignant disease of unknown primary origin)
- Cancer, suspected
- Cannabis-based medicinal products
- Cardiovascular disease prevention
- Cardiovascular disease: identifying and supporting people most at risk of dying early
- Care and support of people growing older with learning disabilities
- Care homes, managing medicines
- Care homes, oral health
- Carers (see supporting adult carers)
- Cataracts
- Catheter-associated UTIs (see urinary tract infections)
- Cellulitis and erysipelas – antimicrobial prescribing
- Cerebral palsy
- Cervical cancer
- Challenging behaviour and learning disabilities
- Changing behaviour
- Chest pain
- Child abuse and neglect
- Child growth, faltering
- Child maltreatment (see child abuse and neglect)
- Childbirth (see fertility, pregnancy and childbirth)
- Children's attachment (see attachment difficulties in children and young people)
- Children's palliative care, for people with life-limiting conditions (see end of life care for people with life-limiting conditions)
- Cholelithiasis, cholecystitis and choledocholithiasis (see gallstone disease)
- Chronic fatigue syndrome myalgic encephalomyelitis
- Chronic heart failure
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic kidney disease, anaemia management
- Chronic kidney disease, hyperphosphataemia
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- Chronic pancreatitis (see pancreatitis)
- Cirrhosis
- Cluster headache (see headaches)
- Cochlear implants (see hearing loss)
- Coeliac disease
- Coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse: assessment and management in healthcare settings
- Coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse: community health and social care services
- Cold homes, reducing preventable excess winter deaths (see excess winter deaths and illnesses associated with cold homes)
- Colonoscopic surveillance
- Colorectal cancer
- Colorectal cancer prevention (see colonoscopic surveillance)
- Common mental health disorders in primary care
- Community engagement
- Community pharmacies: promoting health and wellbeing
- Community-acquired pneumonia (see pneumonia)
- Complex fractures (see trauma)
- Complex psychosis, rehabilitation for adults (see rehabilitation for adults with complex psychosis)
- Complex social factors and pregnancy: service provision
- Concussion and coma (see head injury)
- Conduct disorders and antisocial behaviour in children and young people
- Constipation
- Contraception
- Contraceptive services for under 25s
- Controlled drugs: safe use and management
- Cough (see self-limiting respiratory tract and ear infections – antibiotic prescribing)
- Criminal justice system, health of people in
- Critical illness rehabilitation
- Crohn’s disease
- Cycling and walking
- Cystic fibrosis
- Cystitis (see urinary tract infections)
- Deafness (see hearing loss)
- Decision-making and mental capacity
- Deep vein thrombosis (see venous thromboembolism)
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Dementia, disability and frailty in later life: mid-life approaches to delay or prevent onset
- Dental and oral health
- Dental perioperative care (see perioperative care)
- Dental services, local authority improvement approaches (see oral health improvement for local authorities and their partners)
- Depression
- Depression in children and young people
- Developmental follow-up of children and young people born preterm
- Diabetes
- Diabetes (type 2) prevention
- Diabetes in children and young people
- Diabetes in pregnancy
- Diabetic foot care
- Diarrhoea and vomiting in children
- Diet
- Diverticular disease
- Diverticulitis (see diverticular disease)
- Diverticulosis (see diverticular disease)
- Domestic violence and abuse
- Domiciliary care for older people
- Donor breast milk banks
- Drug allergy
- Drug misuse management in over 16s
- Drug misuse prevention
- Dual diagnosis (see coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse: assessment and management in healthcare settings)
- Dual diagnosis (see coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse: community health and social care services)
- Dyspepsia and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- Ear, nose and throat conditions
- Early and locally advanced breast cancer
- Early-onset neonatal infection
- Earwax removal (see hearing loss)
- Eating disorders
- Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage
- Eczema
- Emergency and acute medical care in over 16s: service delivery and organisation
- End of life care for infants, children and young people (see end of life care for people with life-limiting conditions)
- End of life care for people with life-limiting conditions
- Endocarditis prophylaxis (see prophylaxis against infective endocarditis)
- Endocrine cancers
- Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic conditions
- Endometriosis
- Enteral nutrition (see nutrition support in adults)
- Epilepsy
- Excess winter deaths and illnesses associated with cold homes
- Exercise (see physical activity)
- Eye conditions
- Faecal incontinence
- Falls in older people (see preventing falls in older people)
- Faltering growth
- Familial breast cancer
- Familial hypercholesterolaemia
- Fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic
- Fertility
- Fertility, pregnancy and childbirth
- Fever in under 5s
- Feverish illness in children
- Fibroids, uterine (see heavy menstrual bleeding)
- Flu vaccination (see influenza)
- Food allergy in under 19s
- Foot care for people with diabetes
- Fractured neck of femur (see hip fracture)
- Fractures (see trauma)
- Fragility fractures (see osteoporosis)
- Gallstone disease
- Gastric cancer (see oesophageal and gastric cancer)
- Gastroenteritis in children (see diarrhoea and vomiting in children)
- Gastrointestinal bleeding, acute upper
- Gastrointestinal cancers
- Gastrointestinal conditions
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and dyspepsia
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- Genomic biomarker-based treatment for solid tumours
- Gestational diabetes
- Glaucoma
- Glue ear (see surgical management of otitis media with effusion in children)
- Goitre (see thyroid disease)
- Graves' disease (see thyroid disease)
- Growth, faltering
- Gynaecological conditions (see urogenital conditions)
- Haematemesis (see acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding)
- Haematological cancers (see blood and bone marrow cancers)
- Harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people
- Head injury
- Headaches
- Health of people in the criminal justice system
- Health services, adult user experience
- Healthcare-associated infections, prevention and control
- Hearing loss
- Heart defects, structural
- Heart failure, acute
- Heart failure, chronic
- Heart rhythm conditions
- Heartburn (see dyspepsia and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease)
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Hepatitis B (chronic)
- Hepatitis B and C testing
- High blood pressure (see hypertension)
- Hip fracture
- Hip replacement (see joint replacement)
- Histology-independent treatment for solid tumours
- HIV testing and prevention
- Home care for older people
- Hospital-acquired pneumonia (see pneumonia)
- Human and animal bites
- Hypercholesterolaemia, familial (see familial hypercholesterolaemia)
- Hypercholesterolaemia, non-familial (see cardiovascular disease prevention)
- Hyperkinetic disorder (see attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
- Hyperparathyroidism (primary)
- Hyperphosphataemia in chronic kidney disease
- Hypertension
- Hypertension in pregnancy
- Hyperthyroidism (see thyroid disease)
- Hypothyroidism (see thyroid disease)
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
- Immune system and blood conditions
- Immunisations for under 19s
- Impetigo
- Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia
- Incontinence, faecal
- Incontinence, urinary
- Incontinence, urinary in neurological disease
- Independence and mental wellbeing in older people
- Indoor air quality at home (see air pollution)
- Induction of labour
- Infant feeding (see maternal and child nutrition)
- Infant growth, faltering
- Infections, antimicrobials for common
- Infective endocarditis, prophylaxis
- Inflammatory bowel disease (see Crohn's disease)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (see ulcerative colitis)
- Influenza
- Injuries, multiple serious (see trauma)
- Insect bites and stings
- Intermediate care including reablement
- Interstitial lung disease (see idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis)
- Intraoperative care (see perioperative care)
- Intrapartum care
- Intrapartum care for women with existing medical conditions
- Intrapartum care for women with obstetric complications
- Intravenous fluid therapy in hospital
- Irritable bowel syndrome in adults
- Jaundice, neonatal
- Joint replacement
- Kidney cancer (see renal cancer)
- Kidney conditions
- Kidney disease, chronic
- Kidney injury, acute
- Kidney stones
- Knee replacement (see joint replacement)
- Labour (see intrapartum care)
- Labour, care for women with existing medical conditions (see intrapartum care for women with existing medical conditions)
- Labour, care for women with obstetric complications (see intrapartum care for women with obstetric complications)
- Labour, induced
- Larynx, mouth and throat cancer (see upper aerodigestive tract cancer)
- Learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges
- Learning disabilities, mental health problems
- Learning disabilities, older people
- Leg ulcers
- Leukaemia (see blood and bone marrow cancers)
- Life-limiting conditions, end of life care (see end of life care for people with life-limiting conditions)
- Lifestyle weight management services for overweight or obese adults
- Lifestyle weight management services for overweight or obese children and young people
- Lipid modification (see cardiovascular disease prevention)
- Liver cancers
- Liver conditions
- Liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty
- Local formulary development
- Long-term sickness absence and capability to work
- Looked-after babies, children and young people
- Low back pain and sciatica
- Lower limb peripheral arterial disease
- Lower urinary tract symptoms in men
- Lung cancer
- Lyme disease
- Lymphoma (see blood and bone marrow cancers)
- Lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's
- Macular degeneration, age-related
- Managing long-term sickness absence and capability to work
- Managing medicines for people receiving social care in the community
- Managing medicines in care homes
- Manic depression (see bipolar disorder)
- Maternal and child nutrition
- Maternity settings, safe midwifery staffing
- Medicines adherence (see medicines optimisation)
- Medicines optimisation
- Melanoma
- Meningitis, bacterial and meningococcal septicaemia
- Menopause
- Menorrhagia (see heavy menstrual bleeding)
- Mental capacity and decision-making
- Mental health disorders (common) in primary care
- Mental health problems in people with learning disabilities
- Mental health services, adult service user experience
- Mental health, antenatal and postnatal
- Mental illness (severe) and substance misuse, coexisting (see coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse: community health and social care services)
- Mental wellbeing and independence in older people
- Mental wellbeing at work
- Metabolic conditions (see endocrine, nutritional and metabolic conditions)
- Metastatic malignant disease of unknown primary origin
- Metastatic spinal cord compression
- Migraine (see headaches)
- Miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy
- Monitoring ill patients (see acutely ill patients in hospital)
- Motor neurone disease
- Mouth, larynx and throat cancer (see upper aerodigestive tract cancer)
- Multimorbidity
- Multiple long-term conditions (see multimorbidity)
- Multiple pregnancy (see twin and triplet pregnancy)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Multiple serious injuries (see trauma)
- Musculoskeletal conditions
- Myalgic encephalomyelitis, chronic fatigue syndrome
- Myeloma
- Myocardial infarction, secondary prevention and rehabilitation (see acute coronary syndromes: secondary prevention and rehabilitation)
- Needle and syringe programmes
- Neonatal infection (see early-onset neonatal infection)
- Neonatal jaundice
- Neonatal parenteral nutrition
- Neurological conditions
- Neurological disease, urinary incontinence
- Neuropathic pain
- Neutropenic sepsis
- Nocturnal enuresis (see bedwetting in children and young people)
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Non-STEMI (see acute coronary syndromes: early management)
- Nose conditions (see ear, nose and throat conditions)
- NTRK fusion-positive solid tumours
- Nutrition support in adults
- Nutritional conditions (see endocrine, nutritional and metabolic conditions)
- Obesity
- Obesity: working with local communities
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder and body dysmorphic disorder
- Oesophageal and gastric cancer
- Older people with social care needs and multiple long-term conditions (see social care for older people with multiple long-term conditions)
- Older people, learning disabilities
- Older people: independence and mental wellbeing
- Opioids for pain relief in palliative care
- Oral and dental health
- Oral health for adults in care homes
- Oral health improvement for local authorities and their partners
- Organ donation for transplantation
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Otitis media (acute) (see self-limiting respiratory tract and ear infections – antibiotic prescribing)
- Otitis media with effusion, surgical management in children
- Outdoor air quality and health (see air pollution)
- Ovarian cancer
- Overactive bladder (see urinary incontinence)
- Overweight or obese adults, lifestyle weight management services
- Overweight or obese children and young people, lifestyle weight management services
- Pain, neuropathic
- Palliative care, for people with life-limiting conditions (see end of life care for people with life-limiting conditions)
- Palliative care, opioids
- Pancreatic cancer
- Pancreatitis
- Panic disorder
- Parenteral nutrition (see nutrition support in adults)
- Parkinson’s disease
- Patient experience in adult NHS services
- Patient group directions
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- People with learning disabilities, mental health problems
- People’s experience in adult social care services
- Perioperative care
- Perioperative hypothermia, inadvertent
- Peripheral arterial disease, lower limb
- Personality disorders
- Physical activity
- Pneumonia
- Postnatal and antenatal mental health
- Postnatal care
- Postoperative care (see perioperative care)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Pre-eclampsia (see hypertension in pregnancy)
- Pregnancy (see fertility, pregnancy and childbirth)
- Pregnancy and complex social factors: service provision
- Pregnancy, diabetes
- Pregnancy, hypertension
- Pregnancy, preventing teenage (see preventing sexually transmitted infections and under-18 conceptions)
- Pregnancy, twins and triplets (see twin and triplet pregnancy)
- Premature labour and birth (see preterm labour and birth)
- Premature ovarian insufficiency (see menopause)
- Preoperative care (see perioperative care)
- Preoperative tests
- Pressure ulcers
- Preterm labour and birth
- Preventing falls in older people
- Preventing sexually transmitted infections and under-18 conceptions
- Preventing suicide
- Preventing type 2 diabetes
- Prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections
- Primary hyperparathyroidism
- Prison, health of people in
- Promoting mental wellbeing at work
- Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis
- Prostate cancer
- Prostatitis – antimicrobial prescribing
- Psoriasis
- Psoriatic arthritis (see spondyloarthritis)
- Psychosis and schizophrenia
- Psychosis with coexisting substance misuse (see coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse: assessment and management in healthcare settings)
- Psychosis, complex, rehabilitation for adults (see rehabilitation for adults with complex psychosis)
- Pulmonary embolism (see venous thromboembolism)
- Pyelonephritis (see urinary tract infections)
- Reablement (see intermediate care)
- Reactive arthritis (see spondyloarthritis)
- Rehabilitation after critical illness
- Rehabilitation for adults with complex psychosis
- Renal and ureteric stones
- Renal cancer
- Renal conditions
- Renal failure, acute (see acute kidney injury)
- Renal failure, established (see chronic kidney disease)
- Renal replacement therapy (see chronic kidney disease)
- Respiratory conditions
- Respiratory syncytial virus infection (see bronchiolitis in children)
- Respiratory tract and ear infections (self-limiting), antibiotic prescribing
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Safe midwifery staffing for maternity settings
- Safe staffing for nursing in adult inpatient wards in acute hospitals
- Sarcoma
- Schizophrenia and psychosis
- Sciatica and low back pain
- Sedation in children and young people
- Seizures (see epilepsy)
- Self-harm
- Self-limiting respiratory tract and ear infections – antibiotic prescribing
- Sepsis
- Septicaemia, meningococcal and bacterial meningitis (see bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia)
- Service user experience in adult mental health services
- Severe mental illness and substance misuse, coexisting (see coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse: community health and social care services)
- Sexual behaviour, harmful
- Sexually transmitted infections, prevention
- Shoulder replacement (see joint replacement)
- Sickle cell disease: acute painful episode
- Sinusitis (see self-limiting respiratory tract and ear infections – antibiotic prescribing)
- Skin cancer
- Skin cancer prevention (see sunlight exposure: risks and benefits)
- Skin conditions
- Skin damage (see skin conditions)
- Smokeless tobacco cessation: South Asian communities
- Smoking
- Smoking cessation in secondary care
- Smoking: tobacco harm-reduction approaches
- Social and emotional wellbeing for children and young people
- Social anxiety disorder
- Social care for older people with multiple long-term conditions
- Social care services, people's experience
- Social factors (complex) in pregnancy: service provision
- Sore throat (see self-limiting respiratory tract and ear infections – antibiotic prescribing)
- Spasticity in children and young people
- Specialist neonatal respiratory care in preterm babies
- Spinal cord compression, metastatic (see metastatic spinal cord compression)
- Spinal injury (see trauma)
- Spondyloarthritis
- STEMI (see acute coronary syndromes: early management)
- Stomach cancer (see oesophageal and gastric cancer)
- Stroke
- Structural heart defects
- Substance misuse and severe mental illness, coexisting (see coexisting severe mental illness and substance misuse: community health and social care services)
- Suicide prevention
- Sunlight exposure: risks and benefits
- Supporting adult carers
- Surgical care (see perioperative care)
- Surgical management of otitis media with effusion in children
- Surgical site infection (see prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections)
- Suspected cancer recognition and referral
- Suspected neurological conditions recognition and referral (see neurological conditions)
- Teenage pregnancy prevention (see preventing sexually transmitted infections and under-18 conceptions)
- Termination of pregnancy (see abortion care)
- Throat conditions (see ear, nose and throat conditions)
- Throat, larynx and mouth cancer (see upper aerodigestive tract cancer)
- Thyroid disease
- Thyrotoxicosis (see thyroid disease)
- Tinnitus
- Tissue viability (see pressure ulcers)
- Tobacco (see smoking)
- Tobacco cessation (smokeless): South Asian communities
- Tobacco harm reduction approaches
- Transfusion (see blood transfusion)
- Transient ischaemic attack (see stroke)
- Transient loss of consciousness
- Transition between community or care home and inpatient mental health settings
- Transition between inpatient hospital settings and community or care home settings for adults with social care needs
- Transition from children's to adults' services
- Trauma
- Triplet and twin pregnancy
- Tuberculosis
- Twin and triplet pregnancy
- Type 1 and type 2 diabetes in children and young people
- Type 1 diabetes in adults
- Type 2 diabetes in adults
- Type 2 diabetes prevention
- Ulcerative colitis
- Unintentional injuries among under-15s
- Unstable angina (see acute coronary syndromes: early management)
- Upper aerodigestive tract cancer
- Upper gastrointestinal bleeding, acute
- Ureteric stones
- Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in women
- Urinary incontinence in neurological disease
- Urinary tract infections
- Urinary tract symptoms in men, lower
- Urogenital conditions
- Urological conditions (see urogenital conditions)
- Vaccinations (see immunisation for children and young people)
- Varicose veins in the legs
- Venous thromboembolism
- Violence and aggression
- Vitamin D: supplement use in specific population groups
- Vomiting and diarrhoea in children
- Walking and cycling
- Weight management services (lifestyle) for overweight or obese adults
- Weight management services (lifestyle) for overweight or obese children and young people
- Winter deaths and illnesses associated with cold homes (see excess winter deaths and illnesses associated with cold homes)
- Workplace health: policy and management practices
- Young offender institutions, health of people in
-
Conditions and diseases
-
Blood and immune system conditions
- Allergies
- Anaphylaxis: assessment and referral after emergency treatment
- Blood and bone marrow cancers
- Blood conditions
- Coeliac disease
- Breast conditions
-
Cancer
- Bladder cancer
- Blood and bone marrow cancers
- Brain tumours and metastases
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Complications of cancer
- Endocrine cancers
- Gastrointestinal cancers
- Genomic biomarker-based treatment for solid tumours
- Liver cancers
- Lung cancer
- Metastatic malignant disease of unknown primary origin
- Ovarian cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Renal cancer
- Sarcoma
- Skin cancer
- Suspected cancer recognition and referral
- Upper aerodigestive tract cancer
-
Cardiovascular conditions
- Acute coronary syndromes
- Aortic aneurysms
- Cardiovascular disease: identifying and supporting people most at risk of dying early
- Chest pain
- Heart failure
- Heart rhythm conditions
- Hypertension
- Lipid disorders
- Lower limb peripheral arterial disease
- Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis
- Stable angina
- Stroke
- Structural heart defects
- Varicose veins in the legs
- Venous thromboembolism
- Chronic fatigue syndrome myalgic encephalomyelitis
- Diabetes and other endocrine, nutritional and metabolic conditions
-
Digestive tract conditions
- Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding
- Barrett’s oesophagus
- Coeliac disease
- Constipation
- Cystic fibrosis
- Diarrhoea and vomiting in children
- Diverticular disease
- Dyspepsia and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- Faecal incontinence
- Gallstone disease
- Gastrointestinal cancers
- Gastrointestinal conditions
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Irritable bowel syndrome in adults
- Pancreatitis
- Upper aerodigestive tract cancer
- Ear, nose and throat conditions
- Eye conditions
-
Fertility, pregnancy and childbirth
- Contraception
- Fertility
- Intrapartum care
-
Postnatal care
- Antenatal and postnatal mental health
- Developmental follow-up of children and young people born preterm
- Donor breast milk banks
- Early-onset neonatal infection
- Faltering growth
- Maternal and child nutrition
- Neonatal jaundice
- Neonatal parenteral nutrition
- Specialist neonatal respiratory care in preterm babies
- Pregnancy
- Genetic conditions
- Gynaecological conditions
-
Infections
-
Antibiotic use
- Antimicrobial prescribing for common infections
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Bites and stings – antimicrobial prescribing
- Bronchiectasis (non-cystic fibrosis) – antimicrobial prescribing
- Cellulitis and erysipelas – antimicrobial prescribing
- Early-onset neonatal infection
- Foot care for people with diabetes
- Impetigo
- Leg ulcers
- Pneumonia
- Prophylaxis against infective endocarditis
- Prostatitis – antimicrobial prescribing
- Self-limiting respiratory tract and ear infections – antibiotic prescribing
- Urinary tract infections
- Bacterial meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia in under 16s
- Fever in under 5s
- Hepatitis
- HIV testing and prevention
- Influenza
- Lyme disease
- Preventing sexually transmitted infections and under-18 conceptions
- Prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections
- Sepsis
- Tuberculosis
-
Antibiotic use
- Injuries, accidents and wounds
- Kidney conditions
-
Liver conditions
- Alcohol-use disorders
- Chronic liver disease
- Hepatitis
- Liver cancers
-
Mental health and behavioural conditions
- Alcohol-use disorders
- Antenatal and postnatal mental health
- Antisocial behaviour and conduct disorders in children and young people
- Anxiety
- Attachment difficulties in children and young people
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Common mental health disorders in primary care
- Decision-making and mental capacity
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Depression
- Depression in children and young people
- Eating disorders
- Harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people
- Health of people in the criminal justice system
- Learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges
- Mental health problems in people with learning disabilities
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Psychosis and schizophrenia
- Rehabilitation for adults with complex psychosis
- Self-harm
- Service user experience in adult mental health services
- Transition between community or care home and inpatient mental health settings
- Violence and aggression
- Multiple long-term conditions
- Musculoskeletal conditions
- Neonatal parenteral nutrition
-
Neurological conditions
- Brain tumours and metastases
- Cerebral palsy
- Delirium
- Dementia
- Epilepsy
- Faecal incontinence
- Headaches
- Metastatic spinal cord compression
- Motor neurone disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Neuropathic pain
- Parkinson’s disease
- Spasticity in children and young people
- Transient loss of consciousness
- Trauma
- Urinary incontinence
- Oral and dental health
- Respiratory conditions
- Skin conditions
- Urogenital conditions
- Urological conditions
-
Blood and immune system conditions
-
Health protection
- Communicable diseases
- Drug misuse
- Environment
-
Lifestyle and wellbeing
- Air pollution
- Alcohol
- Behaviour change
- Cardiovascular disease: identifying and supporting people most at risk of dying early
- Community pharmacies: promoting health and wellbeing
- Diet, nutrition and obesity
- Drug misuse
-
Mental health and wellbeing
- Antenatal and postnatal mental health
- Cardiovascular disease: identifying and supporting people most at risk of dying early
- Decision-making and mental capacity
- Health of people in the criminal justice system
- Mental wellbeing and independence in older people
- Promoting mental wellbeing at work
- Social and emotional wellbeing for children and young people
- Oral and dental health
- Physical activity
- Sexual health
- Smoking and tobacco
- Suicide prevention
- Sunlight exposure
-
Population groups
- Adult carers
- Behaviour change
- Black and minority ethnic groups
-
Children and young people
- Alcohol-use disorders
- Antisocial behaviour and conduct disorders in children and young people
- Asthma
- Attachment difficulties in children and young people
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Bedwetting in children and young people
- Bronchiolitis in children
- Cerebral palsy
- Child abuse and neglect
- Constipation
- Depression in children and young people
- Diabetes in children and young people
- Diarrhoea and vomiting in children
- Dyspepsia and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
- Eczema
- End of life care for people with life-limiting conditions
- Faltering growth
- Fever in under 5s
- Food allergy in under 19s
- Harmful sexual behaviour among children and young people
- Immunisations for under 19s
- Intravenous fluid therapy in hospital
- Lifestyle weight management services for overweight or obese children and young people
- Looked-after babies, children and young people
- Pneumonia
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Infants and neonates
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Vulnerable groups
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Service delivery, organisation and staffing
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Adult social services
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Maternity services
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Medicines management
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Antibiotics
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Service transition
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Settings
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Care homes
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Communities
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Home
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Hospitals
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Prisons and other secure settings
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Schools and other educational settings
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Blood transfusion
About
What is covered
This NICE Pathway covers the assessment for and management of blood transfusions in adults, young people and children over 1 year old.
Updates
Updates to this NICE Pathway
14 December 2016 Blood transfusion (NICE quality standard 138) added.
1 March 2016 Spectra Optia for automatic red blood cell exchange in patients with sickle cell disease (NICE medical technologies guidance 28) added to red blood cells.
Person-centred care
People have the right to be involved in discussions and make informed decisions about their care, as described in your care.
Making decisions using NICE guidelines explains how we use words to show the strength (or certainty) of our recommendations, and has information about prescribing medicines (including off label use), professional guidelines, standards and laws (including on consent and mental capacity), and safeguarding.
Your responsibility
Guidelines
The recommendations in this guideline represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, professionals and practitioners are expected to take this guideline fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with them and their families and carers or guardian.
Local commissioners and providers of healthcare have a responsibility to enable the guideline to be applied when individual professionals and people using services wish to use it. They should do so in the context of local and national priorities for funding and developing services, and in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to reduce health inequalities. Nothing in this guideline should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with complying with those duties.
Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible.
Technology appraisals
The recommendations in this interactive flowchart represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, health professionals are expected to take these recommendations fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients. The application of the recommendations in this interactive flowchart is at the discretion of health professionals and their individual patients and do not override the responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or their carer or guardian.
Commissioners and/or providers have a responsibility to provide the funding required to enable the recommendations to be applied when individual health professionals and their patients wish to use it, in accordance with the NHS Constitution. They should do so in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to reduce health inequalities.
Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible.
Medical technologies guidance, diagnostics guidance and interventional procedures guidance
The recommendations in this interactive flowchart represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, healthcare professionals are expected to take these recommendations fully into account. However, the interactive flowchart does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer.
Commissioners and/or providers have a responsibility to implement the recommendations, in their local context, in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations. Nothing in this interactive flowchart should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.
Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible.
Short Text
What is covered
This NICE Pathway covers the assessment for and management of blood transfusions in adults, young people and children over 1 year old.
Updates
Updates to this NICE Pathway
14 December 2016 Blood transfusion (NICE quality standard 138) added.
1 March 2016 Spectra Optia for automatic red blood cell exchange in patients with sickle cell disease (NICE medical technologies guidance 28) added to red blood cells.
Sources
NICE guidance and other sources used to create this interactive flowchart.
Blood transfusion (2015) NICE guideline NG24
Intraoperative red blood cell salvage during radical prostatectomy or radical cystectomy (2008) NICE interventional procedures guidance 258
Intraoperative blood cell salvage in obstetrics (2005) NICE interventional procedures guidance 144
Spectra Optia for automatic red blood cell exchange in people with sickle cell disease (2016) NICE medical technologies guidance 28
Hemosep for cell salvage (2017) NICE medtech innovation briefing 103
Blood transfusion (2016) NICE quality standard 138
Related
Quality standards
Blood transfusion
These quality statements are taken from the blood transfusion quality standard. The quality standard defines clinical best practice for blood transfusion and should be read in full.
Quality statements
Iron supplementation
This quality statement is taken from the blood transfusion quality standard. The quality standard defines clinical best practice for blood transfusion and should be read in full.
Quality statement
People with iron-deficiency anaemia who are having surgery are offered iron supplementation before and after surgery.
Rationale
Preoperative anaemia is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality, and with increased transfusion needs. Treating iron deficiency with iron supplements can reduce the need for blood transfusion. This avoids serious risks associated with blood transfusion, for example infection, fluid overload and incorrect blood transfusions being given. It may also reduce the length of hospital stays and the cost to the NHS. Depending on the circumstances, the cause of the iron deficiency should be investigated before or after surgery.
Quality measures
Structure
a) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that people with iron-deficiency anaemia who are having surgery are offered iron supplementation before surgery.
Data source: Local data collection.
b) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that people with iron-deficiency anaemia are offered iron supplementation after surgery.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
a) Proportion of people with iron-deficiency anaemia who are having surgery and receive iron supplementation before surgery.
Numerator – the number in the denominator who receive iron supplementation before surgery.
Denominator – the number of people with iron-deficiency anaemia who are having surgery.
Data source: Local data collection.
b) Proportion of people with iron-deficiency anaemia who receive iron supplementation after surgery.
Numerator – the number in the denominator who receive iron supplementation.
Denominator – the number of people with iron-deficiency anaemia who have had surgery.
Data source: Local data collection.
Outcome
Blood transfusion rates associated with surgery.
Data source: Local data collection.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (primary and secondary care services) ensure that systems are in place to offer iron supplementation before and after surgery to people with iron-deficiency anaemia.
Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and blood transfusion specialists) offer iron supplementation before and after surgery to people with iron-deficiency anaemia.
Commissioners (clinical commissioning groups) commission services that offer iron supplementation before and after surgery for people with iron-deficiency anaemia.
People who are having an operation and have anaemia caused by a lack of iron should be offered iron (usually as tablets) before and after the operation.
Source guidance
Blood transfusion (2015) NICE guideline NG24, recommendations 1.1.2 and 1.1.3
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
Iron supplementation
People should have their haemoglobin levels checked at least 2 weeks before surgery, if possible and necessary for the procedure they are having. If they have iron-deficiency anaemia, they should be offered iron supplementation. Oral iron should be offered initially, and started at least 2 weeks before surgery. If oral iron is not appropriate, intravenous iron should be considered.
[NICE’s guideline on blood transfusion (recommendations 1.1.2 and 1.1.3) and expert consensus]
Tranexamic acid for adults
This quality statement is taken from the blood transfusion quality standard. The quality standard defines clinical best practice for blood transfusion and should be read in full.
Quality statement
Adults who are having surgery and are expected to have moderate blood loss are offered tranexamic acid.
Rationale
Tranexamic acid can reduce the need for blood transfusion in adults having surgery. This avoids serious risks associated with blood transfusion, for example infection, fluid overload and incorrect blood transfusions being given. It may also reduce the length of hospital stays and the cost to the NHS.
Quality measures
Structure
Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that adults who are having surgery and are expected to have moderate blood loss are offered tranexamic acid.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
Proportion of adults who are having surgery and are expected to have moderate blood loss who receive tranexamic acid.
Numerator – the number of adults in the denominator who receive tranexamic acid.
Denominator – the number of adults who are having surgery and are expected to have moderate blood loss.
Data source: Local data collection.
Outcome
Blood transfusion rates associated with surgery.
Data source: Local data collection.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (secondary care services) ensure that systems are in place to offer tranexamic acid to adults who are having surgery and are expected to have moderate blood loss.
Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and blood transfusion specialists) offer tranexamic acid to adults who are having surgery and are expected to have moderate blood loss.
Commissioners (clinical commissioning groups) commission services that offer tranexamic acid to adults who are having surgery and are expected to have moderate blood loss.
Adults who are expected to lose more than half a litre of blood during an operation are offered tranexamic acid. This helps blood to clot better and reduces blood loss during surgery.
Source guidance
Blood transfusion (2015) NICE guideline NG24, recommendation 1.1.5
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
Moderate blood loss
Adults who are expected to have blood loss greater than 500 ml during surgery, as recorded on the World Health Organization surgical safety checklist.
[NICE’s guideline on blood transfusion, recommendation 1.1.5 and the World Health Organization surgical safety checklist]
Reassessment after red blood cell transfusions
This quality statement is taken from the blood transfusion quality standard. The quality standard defines clinical best practice for blood transfusion and should be read in full.
Quality statement
People are clinically reassessed and have their haemoglobin levels checked after each unit of red blood cells they receive, unless they are bleeding or are on a chronic transfusion programme.
Rationale
Clinical reassessment and measurement of haemoglobin levels after each unit of red blood cells transfused helps healthcare professionals to decide whether further transfusions are needed. This helps avoid the serious risks associated with red blood cell transfusions, for example infection, fluid overload and incorrect blood transfusions being given. It may also reduce the length of hospital stays and the cost to the NHS. For children and for adults with low body weight, red blood cell transfusion volumes should be calculated based on body weight.
Quality measures
Structure
a) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that people are clinically reassessed after each unit of red blood cells they receive, unless they are bleeding or are on a chronic transfusion programme.
Data source: Local data collection.
b) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that people have their haemoglobin levels checked after each unit of red blood cells they receive, unless they are bleeding or are on a chronic transfusion programme.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
a) Proportion of red blood cell transfusions where a clinical reassessment of the person is carried out after each unit of blood transfused, unless they are bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Numerator – the number in the denominator where a clinical reassessment is carried out after each unit of blood transfused.
Denominator – the number of red blood cell transfusions in people who are not bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Data source: Local data collection.
b) Proportion of red blood cell transfusions where the haemoglobin level of the person is checked after each unit of blood transfused, unless they are bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Numerator – the number in the denominator where the haemoglobin level of the person is checked after each unit of blood transfused.
Denominator – the number of red blood cell transfusions in people who are not bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Data source: Local data collection.
Outcome
Incidence of serious adverse events after red blood cell transfusion.
Data source: Local data collection.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (secondary care services) ensure that systems are in place to clinically reassess people and check their haemoglobin levels after each unit of red blood cells transfused, unless they are bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and blood transfusion specialists) clinically reassess people and check their haemoglobin levels after each unit of red blood cells transfused, unless they are bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
Commissioners (clinical commissioning groups) commission services that clinically reassess people and check their haemoglobin levels after each unit of blood transfused, unless they are bleeding or on a chronic transfusion programme.
People who have a red blood cell transfusion have an assessment and their haemoglobin levels checked after the transfusion to see if they need another one, unless they are bleeding or need regular blood transfusions.
Source guidance
Blood transfusion (2015) NICE guideline NG24, recommendations 1.2.1 and 1.2.6
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
Clinical assessment
This includes:
- asking the person if their anaemia symptoms have resolved
- asking the person about any new symptoms that might indicate an adverse response to transfusion (such as circulatory overload)
- reviewing the vital signs taken before, during and after the transfusion
- any further clinical assessment that could be needed.
[Expert consensus]
Patient information
This quality statement is taken from the blood transfusion quality standard. The quality standard defines clinical best practice for blood transfusion and should be read in full.
Quality statement
People who may need or who have had a blood transfusion are given verbal and written information about blood transfusion.
Rationale
It is important that people fully understand the benefits and risks of a blood transfusion, so they can give informed consent. Discussing the alternatives, and knowing that they cannot donate blood after a blood transfusion, helps people to decide if they want one. However, some blood transfusions are not planned and are carried out in an emergency. In these cases information should be given after the transfusion, including advice about the implications of the transfusion. Helping people to understand the process and its implications can improve their experience of receiving a blood transfusion.
Quality measures
Structure
Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that people who may need or who have had a blood transfusion are given verbal and written information about blood transfusion.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
a) Proportion of people who may need a blood transfusion who are given verbal and written information about blood transfusion.
Numerator – the number in the denominator who are given verbal and written information about blood transfusion.
Denominator – the number of people who may need a blood transfusion.
Data source: Local data collection.
b) Proportion of people who have had a blood transfusion who are given verbal and written information about blood transfusion.
Numerator – the number in the denominator who are given verbal and written information about blood transfusion.
Denominator – the number of people who have had a blood transfusion.
Data source: Local data collection.
Outcome
Patient satisfaction with information they are given about blood transfusion.
Data source: Local data collection.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers (secondary care services) ensure that systems are in place to give verbal and written information about blood transfusion to people who may need or who have had a blood transfusion.
Healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses and blood transfusion specialists) give verbal and written information about blood transfusion to people who may need or who have had a blood transfusion.
Commissioners (clinical commissioning groups) commission services that give verbal and written information about blood transfusion to people who may need or who have had a blood transfusion.
People who may need a blood transfusion, or who have had one unexpectedly (for example, because of serious bleeding during an operation), have information about blood transfusion explained to them verbally and in writing.
Source guidance
Blood transfusion (2015) NICE guideline NG24, recommendation 1.8.1
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
People who may need a blood transfusion
People who have had a blood sample taken and sent to the blood transfusion laboratory for grouping and/or antibody screening.
[Expert consensus]
Verbal and written information
This should cover:
- the reason for the transfusion
- the risks and benefits
- the transfusion process
- any transfusion needs specific to them
- any alternatives that are available, and how they might reduce their need for a transfusion
- that they are no longer eligible to donate blood.
[NICE’s guideline on blood transfusion]
Effective interventions library
Effective interventions library
Successful effective interventions library details
Implementation
NICE has produced resources to help implement its guidance on:
Information for the public
NICE has written information for the public on each of the following topics.
Pathway information
Person-centred care
People have the right to be involved in discussions and make informed decisions about their care, as described in your care.
Making decisions using NICE guidelines explains how we use words to show the strength (or certainty) of our recommendations, and has information about prescribing medicines (including off label use), professional guidelines, standards and laws (including on consent and mental capacity), and safeguarding.
Your responsibility
Guidelines
The recommendations in this guideline represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, professionals and practitioners are expected to take this guideline fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients or the people using their service. It is not mandatory to apply the recommendations, and the guideline does not override the responsibility to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual, in consultation with them and their families and carers or guardian.
Local commissioners and providers of healthcare have a responsibility to enable the guideline to be applied when individual professionals and people using services wish to use it. They should do so in the context of local and national priorities for funding and developing services, and in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to reduce health inequalities. Nothing in this guideline should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with complying with those duties.
Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible.
Technology appraisals
The recommendations in this interactive flowchart represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, health professionals are expected to take these recommendations fully into account, alongside the individual needs, preferences and values of their patients. The application of the recommendations in this interactive flowchart is at the discretion of health professionals and their individual patients and do not override the responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or their carer or guardian.
Commissioners and/or providers have a responsibility to provide the funding required to enable the recommendations to be applied when individual health professionals and their patients wish to use it, in accordance with the NHS Constitution. They should do so in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, to advance equality of opportunity and to reduce health inequalities.
Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible.
Medical technologies guidance, diagnostics guidance and interventional procedures guidance
The recommendations in this interactive flowchart represent the view of NICE, arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence available. When exercising their judgement, healthcare professionals are expected to take these recommendations fully into account. However, the interactive flowchart does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the circumstances of the individual patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or carer.
Commissioners and/or providers have a responsibility to implement the recommendations, in their local context, in light of their duties to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations. Nothing in this interactive flowchart should be interpreted in a way that would be inconsistent with compliance with those duties.
Commissioners and providers have a responsibility to promote an environmentally sustainable health and care system and should assess and reduce the environmental impact of implementing NICE recommendations wherever possible.
Supporting information
Major haemorrhage can be defined as any of the following:
- The loss of more than 1 blood volume within 24 hours (around 70 mL/kg, or more than 5 litres in a 70 kg adult).
- A loss of 50% of total blood volume in under 3 hours.
- Bleeding in excess of 150 mL/minute in adults.
- As a practical clinical definition, bleeding which leads to:
- a systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mm/Hg or
- a heart rate of more than 110 beats per minute in adults.
World Health Organization Bleeding Grades
World Health Organization Bleeding Grade | Examples |
---|---|
1 |
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
4 |
|
Glossary
international normalised ratio
(transient ischaemic attack; defined as stroke symptoms and signs that resolve within 24 hours)
World Health Organisation
Paths in this pathway
Pathway created: November 2015 Last updated: September 2020
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