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Twenty guidelines published to date under new National Clinical Guideline Programme

The National Clinical Guidelines are a programme of work agreed between the National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) and the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (IOG) of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI). Established in mid-2021, the Guideline Programme Team recently published its Summer 2024 Update. To date 20 guidelines have been launched under the new Guideline Programme (see details below) and a further 24 guidelines are under development.

Clinical practice guidelines synthesise the best available evidence to assist healthcare practitioners, service users, policymakers and other stakeholders to make informed decisions, with the aim of improving care quality and patient outcomes.

Professor Keelin O’Donoghue was appointed as NWIHP’s Clinical Lead for Guideline Development (Maternity and Gynaecology) in 2021, joined by Ms Nicolai Murphy who was appointed as Programme Manager. Within the Guideline Programme Team, Professor O’Donoghue is responsible for the review, update, and development and publication of National Clinical Guidelines in relation to Ireland’s Maternity and Gynaecology services. A new guideline development process was established in 2021, including a multidisciplinary national Expert Advisory Group, who review and approve all guidelines prior to publication, alongside other relevant stakeholders.

National clinical guidelines published since 2021

Area	Guideline
Gynaecology	Assessment and Management of Postmenopausal Bleeding Fertility-Investigation and Management in Secondary Care
Maternal Fetal Medicine	Management of Rheumatic Diseases in the Preconception, Antenatal and Postnatal Periods The Fetal Anatomy Ultrasound
Maternity / Pregnancy	Antenatal Corticosteroids to Reduce Neonatal Morbidity and Mortality Diagnosis and Management of Placenta Accreta Spectrum Induction of Labour Prevention and Management of Primary Postpartum Haemorrhage Prevention of Early Onset Group B Streptococcal Disease in Term Infants Reduced Fetal Movements Screening and Management of Domestic Violence in Pregnancy and the Early Postnatal Period Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Section Varicella in Pregnancy
Pregnancy Loss	Investigation and Management of Complications of Early Termination of Pregnancy Recurrent Miscarriage Stillbirth: Prevention, Investigation, Management and Care The Diagnosis and Management of Ectopic Pregnancy
Urogynaecology	Assessment and Management of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Women Diagnosis and Management of Mesh Complications Diagnosis and Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse

The guidelines can be accessed via the:

NWIHP website: https://hse.ie/eng/about/who/acute-hospitals-division/woman-infants/clinical-guidelines/national-clinical-guidelines.html
IOG website: https://rcpi.ie/Faculties-Institutes/Institute-of-Obstetricians-and-Gynaecologists/National-Clinical-Guidelines-in-Obstetrics-and-Gynaecology
MEG eGuides App, which can be downloaded on Google Play, or the Apple App Store
Eolas Medical App, which can be downloaded on Google Play, or the Apple App Store, or accessed via https://app.eolasmedical.com/.

For more information or to get involved, contact:

Professor Keelin O’Donoghue: k.odonoghue@ucc.ie
Ms Nicolai Murphy: nicolai.murphy@ucc.ie
Dr Cliona Murphy: cd.nwihp@hse.ie

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