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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Vulnerable groups
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Service delivery, organisation and staffing
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Induction of labour
About
What is covered
This interactive flowchart covers the policy and methods of induction, and the care of women being offered and having induction.
In 2004 and 2005, one in five deliveries in the UK was induced. Induced labours have an impact on the birth experience of women, and on their health and that of their babies.
Updates
Updates to this interactive flowchart
6 April 2016 Restructured, and summarised recommendations replaced by full recommendations.
21 July 2015 Insertion of a double balloon catheter for induction of labour in pregnant women without previous caesarean section (NICE interventional procedures guidance 528) added.
16 April 2014 Inducing labour (NICE quality standard 60) added.
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 interactive flowchart covers the policy and methods of induction, and the care of women being offered and having induction.
In 2004 and 2005, one in five deliveries in the UK was induced. Induced labours have an impact on the birth experience of women, and on their health and that of their babies.
Updates
Updates to this interactive flowchart
6 April 2016 Restructured, and summarised recommendations replaced by full recommendations.
21 July 2015 Insertion of a double balloon catheter for induction of labour in pregnant women without previous caesarean section (NICE interventional procedures guidance 528) added.
16 April 2014 Inducing labour (NICE quality standard 60) added.
Sources
NICE guidance and other sources used to create this interactive flowchart.
Intrapartum care for healthy women and babies (2014 updated 2017) NICE guideline CG190
Inducing labour (2008) NICE guideline CG70
Antenatal care for uncomplicated pregnancies (2008 updated 2017) NICE guideline CG62
Insertion of a double balloon catheter for induction of labour in pregnant women without previous caesarean section (2015) NICE interventional procedure guidance 528
Inducing labour (2014) NICE quality standard 60
Induction of labour: misoprostol vaginal delivery system (2014) NICE evidence summary ESNM38
Induction of labour in late intrauterine fetal death: vaginal misoprostol (after oral mifepristone) (2013) NICE evidence summary ESUOM11
Novii Wireless Patch System for maternal and fetal monitoring (2020) NICE medtech innovation briefing 228
Related
Quality standards
Inducing labour
These quality statements are taken from the inducing labour quality standard. The quality standard defines clinical best practice for induction of labour and should be read in full.
Quality statements
Women's involvement in decisions about induction of labour
This quality statement is taken from the induction of labour quality standard. The quality standard defines clinical best practice for induction of labour and should be read in full.
Quality statement
Women who are being offered induction of labour are given personalised information about the benefits and risks for them and their babies, and the alternatives to induction.
Rationale
The quality of the information-giving process, and the provision of information about induction of labour at the most appropriate time, can ensure effective choices by women about whether and when they have their labour induced. Women can use this information to consider their options, to ask questions and to reach a decision with the support of their healthcare professionals.
Quality measures
Structure
Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that women who are offered induction of labour are provided with personalised information about the benefits and risks for them and their babies, and the alternatives to induction.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
Proportion of women who are offered induction of labour who receive personalised information about the benefits and risks for them and their babies, and the alternatives to induction.
Numerator – the number of women in the denominator who received personalised information about the benefits and risks for them and their babies, and the alternatives to induction.
Denominator – the number of women who are offered induction of labour.
Data source: Local data collection.
Outcome
Women who are offered induction of labour feel that they were given sufficient information to enable them to choose to have their labour induced.
Data source: Local data collection. NICE audit support for induction of labour; NICE questionnaire for women for induction of labour.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers ensure that personalised verbal and written information is available for women who are offered induction of labour that explains the reasons for induction of labour, the benefits and risks for them and their babies, and the alternatives to induction.
Healthcare professionals ensure that they provide women who are offered induction of labour with personalised information explaining the reasons for induction of labour, the benefits and risks for them and their babies, and the alternatives to induction.
Commissioners ensure that they commission services that provide women who are offered induction of labour with personalised information explaining the reasons for induction of labour, the benefits and risks for them and their babies, and the alternatives to induction.
Women who are offered induction of labour (labour that is artificially started using a pessary, tablet or gel) are given personalised information by their healthcare professionals about the reasons for induction of labour, the benefits and risks for them and their babies, and the alternatives to induction.
Source guidance
Induction of labour (NICE clinical guideline 70), recommendations 1.1.1.1 and 1.1.1.2 (key priorities for implementation), and 1.1.1.3.
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
Personalised information
For women who are offered induction of labour personalised information includes the reasons why induction may be clinically appropriate, and alternative options; when, where and how induction may be carried out (including pain relief options); and the risks and benefits of induction of labour relevant to the woman's own circumstances. [Adapted from NICE clinical guideline 70, recommendation 1.1.1.2]
Equality and diversity considerations
Personalised information about the reasons for induction of labour, the benefits and risks and the alternatives, should be in a form that can be understood by all women so that they can make informed choices. Information should be provided in an accessible format, including for women with physical, sensory or learning disabilities and women who do not speak or read English.
Safety and support for women having labour induced as outpatients
This quality statement is taken from the induction of labour quality standard. The quality standard defines clinical best practice for induction of labour and should be read in full.
Quality statement
Women only have their labour induced as outpatients if safety and support procedures, including audit, are in place.
Rationale
Women who have their labour artificially started using pharmacological techniques sometimes leave hospital to return home (or to a setting where they do not have immediate access to the hospital), but they will return to the hospital for the delivery. Women should only leave hospital after induction is started if it is in their interests and if there are safety and support procedures in place. Continual audit of the practice of induction of labour for women who return home will allow service providers and clinical teams to ensure that this process is used for clinically appropriate reasons and to monitor outcomes for women and their babies.
Quality measures
Structure
a) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that women who have their labour induced as outpatients are induced with safety and support procedures in place.
b) Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that the practice of outpatient induction is audited continually.
Data source: Local data collection.
Process
a) Proportion of women who are induced as outpatients who are monitored for a period of time before they go home.
Numerator – the number of women in the denominator who are monitored for a period of time before they go home.
Denominator – the number of women who are induced as outpatients.
b) Proportion of women who are induced as outpatients who are given instructions on who to contact if they experience regular contractions or have concerns.
Numerator – the number of women in the denominator who are given instructions on who to contact if they experience regular contractions or have concerns.
Denominator – the number of women who are induced as outpatients.
Data source: Local data collection.
Outcome
a) Maternal safety.
b) Newborn safety.
Data source: Local data collection.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers ensure that safety and support procedures, including audit, are in place for women who have their labour induced as outpatients.
Healthcare professionals follow the safety and support procedures that are in place for women who have their labour induced as outpatients and take part in continual audit of the process of induction.
Commissioners ensure that they commission services from providers that can demonstrate that safety and support procedures, including audit, are in place for women who have their labour induced as outpatients.
Women who have induction of labour (labour that is artificially started using a pessary, tablet or gel) started in a hospital maternity unit and then go home to wait for the induction to work are offered monitoring for a time before they leave the unit, and given information about who to contact if contractions start or they have any concerns, and about the types of pain relief available.
Source guidance
Induction of labour (NICE clinical guideline 70), recommendations 1.5.1.1, 1.5.1.2 and 1.6.1.6.
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
Outpatient
Outpatient in this context refers to women who start the process of having their labour induced in hospital and are then discharged either to home or to a setting without immediate access to inpatient care (such as an outreach antenatal clinic or a birthing centre). Women will return to hospital for delivery of the baby. [Expert consensus]
Safety and support procedures
When women have their labour induced as outpatients, safety and support procedures should include:
- Monitoring women for a period of time before they go home.
- Giving women instructions on who to contact (and ensuring they have immediate access to advice) if they experience contractions, if they do not experience contractions after 6 hours, or if they have any concerns.
- Ensuring that women are told about the pain relief options available in different settings.
- Continual audit of the process of induction.
[Adapted from Induction of labour (NICE full clinical guideline 70)]
Pain relief
This quality statement is taken from the induction of labour quality standard. The quality standard defines clinical best practice for induction of labour and should be read in full.
Quality statement
Women who have their labour induced have access to pain relief that is appropriate to their level of pain and to the type of pain relief they request.
Rationale
It is important for all women in labour that they receive appropriate pain relief within a suitable timeframe. As induced labour is usually more painful than spontaneous labour, women whose labour is induced may need pain relief earlier than women whose labour starts spontaneously. Women's needs for pain relief, and for different types of pain relief, may vary. Pain relief that is appropriate and suitable for the woman should be available, along with comfort and support that may be provided by partners, family members and others.
Quality measures
Structure
Evidence of local arrangements for women who have their labour induced to have access to pain relief that is appropriate to their level of pain and to the type of pain relief they request.
Data source: Local data collection.
Outcome
Women who had induction of labour are satisfied that the pain relief they received was appropriate to their level of pain and to the type of pain relief they requested.
Data source: Local data collection. NICE audit support for induction of labour; NICE questionnaire for women for induction of labour.
What the quality statement means for different audiences
Service providers ensure that access is available, for women whose labour is induced, to pain relief that is appropriate to their level of pain and to the type of pain relief they request.
Healthcare professionals ensure that women whose labour is induced have access to pain relief that is appropriate to their level of pain and to the type of pain relief they request.
Commissioners ensure that they commission services that provide women whose labour is induced with access to pain relief that is appropriate to their level of pain and to the type of pain relief they request.
Women who have induction of labour (labour that is started artificially using a pessary, tablet or gel) are offered pain relief that is appropriate for the amount of pain they are experiencing and the type of pain relief they request.
Source guidance
Induction of labour (NICE clinical guideline 70), recommendation 1.6.2.3.
Definitions of terms used in this quality statement
Appropriate pain relief
Induced labour is usually more painful than spontaneous labour. It follows that 'appropriate' in this context refers to whether the type of pain relief is satisfactory and if it is given within a suitable timeframe. [Adapted from Induction of labour (NICE full clinical guideline 70) and expert opinion]
Pain relief
For women who are offered induction of labour the pain relief options available are those outlined in sections 1.4 and 1.5 of Intrapartum care (NICE clinical guideline 55), along with comfort that may be provided by partners, family members and others.
Equality and diversity considerations
All women, including those with physical, sensory or learning disabilities and women who do not speak or read English, should have access to support such as an interpreter or advocate to help them express their needs for pain relief.
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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
Glossary
membrane sweeping involves the examining finger passing through the cervix to rotate against the wall of the uterus, to separate the chorionic membrane from the decidua – if the cervix will not admit a finger, massaging around the cervix in the vaginal fornices may achieve a similar effect; for the purpose of these recommendations, membrane sweeping is regarded as an adjunct to induction of labour rather than an actual method of induction
the Bishop score is a group of measurements made by doing a vaginal examination, and is based on the station, dilation, effacement (or length), position and consistency of the cervix; a score of eight or more generally indicates that the cervix is ripe, or 'favourable' – when there is a high chance of spontaneous labour, or response to interventions made to induce labour
summary of product characteristics
Paths in this pathway
Pathway created: November 2011 Last updated: October 2020
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