New additions to the website

Patient versions of Dementia, Epilepsy in children and young people, and Lung cancer added.
Urdu translations of patient version on Coronary Heart Disease guidelines added.
Large print edition of patient version on Risk estimation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease added.
Patient leaflets added.

4 June 2007

Three excel spreadsheets are now available to assist health boards to estimate their local resources required and associated costs of implementing key recommendations in the five heart disease guidelines (No. 93-97), together with estimates of the resulting clinical benefits.

18 April 2007

20 March 2007

Management of acute upper and lower gastrointestinal blood loss. National Meeting programme added.

19 March 2007

SIGN 84 Management of breast cancer in women. Table 1 updated.

6 February 2007

1 February 2007

January 2007 edition of Patient Newsletter added

8 December 2006

24 November 2006

8 November 2006

November Patient Newsletter added

27 October 2006

17 October 2006

20 September 2006

SIGN Annual report 2005/6 added

4 September 2006

September Patient Network Newsletter added

17 August 2006

e-Books section added
New dates for Introductory Critical Appraisal courses added

9 August 2006

Asthma Evidence-based Guideline Tutorial added
Publication of SIGN 88 Management of suspected bacterial urinary tract infection in adults
Smart use of antibiotics advised in fight against common urine infections (Press Release)
Details of Implementation Launch of SIGN 87: Management of oesophageal and gastric cancer

27 June 2006

Publication of Guideline No. 87 Management of oesophageal and gastric cancer.
Guidelines on oesophageal and gastric cancer published (Press Release).

26 June 2006

SIGN Patient Update - June added.

23 May 2006

SIGN Guideline Programme updated.

3 March 2006

Publication of Guideline No. 86 Management of patients with dementia.
Guidelines on dementia diagnosis and care published (Press Release).

31 January 2006

Publication of Guideline No. 85 Management of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.
New bladder cancer guidelines recommend greater use of chemotherapy for suitable patients (Press Release).

22 December 2005

Publication of Guideline No. 84 Management of breast cancer in women.
NHS breast cancer guidelines promote radiotherapy and palliative care benefits (Press Release).

24 November 2005

Publication of Guideline No. 83 Prevention and management of dental decay in the pre-school child.
New guidelines say Scots kids can brush away tooth decay before age 2 (Press Release).

4 November 2005

31 October 2005

Publication of 2005 update of Guideline No. 63 British guideline on the management of asthma.

31 May 2005

Publication of Guideline No. 82 Bipolar affective disorder.
New NHS guideline for care of those living with clinical mood swings (Press Release).

14 April 2005

Publication of Guideline No. 81 Diagnosis and management of epilepsies in children and young people.
National guideline for children with epilepsy recommends specialist diagnosis (Press Release).
New staff contact details added.

4 March 2005

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 76 Long term follow up of survivors of childhood cancer.

22 February 2005

Publication of Guideline No. 80 Management of patients with lung cancer.
Fast track approach to lung cancer recommended in new national guidelines (Press Release).
Comparison of National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and SIGN methodologies

20 December 2004

Addition of NHS QIS publication scheme.

13 December 2004

Publication of Guideline No. 79 Management of urinary incontinence in primary care.
New guideline for NHS shows more than 100,000 Scots could benefit from urinary incontinence treatment (Press Release).

9 December 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 75 Epithelial ovarian cancer

7 December 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 74 The management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence in primary care.

3 December 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 73 Management of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome in adults.

1 December 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 72 Cutaneous Melanoma.

23 September 2004

Guideline issued for management of swallowing difficulties after stroke (Press Release).

14 September 2004

Publication of Guideline No. 78 Management of patients with stroke: Identification and management of dysphagia.

2 September 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 70 Diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults.

31 August 2004

Update to information on variant CJD in Guideline No. 54 Perioperative blood transfusion for elective surgery.

11 August 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 69 Management of obesity in children and young people.

3 August 2004

Publication of Guideline No. 77 Postoperative management in adults.
New Guideline for management of patients at risk of developing serious complications after surgery (Press Release).

2 August 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 68 Dyspepsia.

30 July 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 67 Management of colorectal cancer.

19 July 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 66 Diagnosis and management of childhood otitis media in primary care.

13 July 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 65 The immediate discharge document.

6 July 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 64 Management of patients with stroke: Rehabilitation, prevention and management of complications, and discharge planning.

29 June 2004

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 58 Safe sedation of children undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

7 June 2004

Minor update to SIGN 70 diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults.

2 June 2004

Publication of 2004 update of Guideline No. 63 Quick Reference Guide British guideline on the management of asthma.

26 May 2004

Publication of revised edition of SIGN 50: A guideline developers' handbook.

13 May 2004

Publication of revised edition of Guideline No. 58 Safe sedation of children undergoing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

20 April 2004

Publication of 2004 update of Guideline No. 63 British guideline on the management of asthma.
New 'living' asthma guideline launched to improve treatment for UK's 5.1 million asthma sufferers (Press Release)

1 April 2004

Update of SIGN 50 Annex C Critical appraisal: notes and checklists.

18 February 2004

Addition of the CITS review of SIGN involving patient project.

22 January 2004

Addition of Guideline No. 76 Long-term follow up of survivors of childhood cancer.
Improving the long-term follow-up care of survivors of childhood cancer in Scotland (Press Release).

9 January 2003

Addition of Guideline development in fifty easy steps a summary of the SIGN guideline development process.

26 November 2003

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 71 Management of osteoporosis.

6 October 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 75 Epithelial ovarian cancer.

22 September 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 74 The management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence in primary care.
Scottish GPs to receive new guidelines on treating alcohol dependence, as deaths from alcohol misuse treble (Press Release)

5 August 2003

New clinical guidelines issued following increase in level of skin cancer in Scotland (Press Release)

4 August 2003

Addition of HTML version of Guideline No. 63 British guideline on the management of asthma.

18 July 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 72 Cutaneous melanoma.

14 July 2003

Erratum: SIGN 70 diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults.

11 July 2003

Addition of CPD contacts for Continuing professional development: A manual for SIGN guideline developers

25 June 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 73 Management of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome in adults.

6 June 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 71 Management of osteoporosis.

28 May 2003

Osteoporosis in Scotland: new national drive to improve patients’ access to treatment & to raise awareness of disease prevention measures (Press Release)

25 April 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 70 Diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults.

10 April 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 69 Management of obesity in children and young people.

20 March 2003

New SIGN guideline on dyspepsia provides evidence base, and much-needed clarity, for more effective investigation and treatment (press release).

18 March 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 68 Dyspepsia.

17 March 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 67 Management of colorectal cancer.

13 March 2003

BTS/SIGN asthma guideline: joint statement on pharmaceutical industry advertisements.

3 March 2003

New GP guidance on diagnosis and treatment of childhood ear inflammation and ‘glue ear’ (Press Release)

12 February 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 66 Diagnosis and management of childhood otitis media in primary care.

28 January 2003

New guidelines launched to prevent asthma deaths and cut asthma attacks and illness (Press Release).

27 January 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 63 British guideline on the management of asthma.

17 January 2003

Review of the immediate discharge document (IDD) (Press Release).

14 January 2003

Addition of Guideline No. 65 The immediate discharge document.

13 December 2002

Implementing SIGN Guidelines: A national challenge conference reports added to website.

29 November 2002

Addition of publication Continuing professional development: A manual for SIGN guideline developers.
'Continuing professional development: a manual for SIGN guideline developers' published (Press Release)

21 November 2002

Addition of Guideline No. 64 Management of patients with stroke: Rehabilitation, prevention and management of complications, and discharge planning.
Stroke units: more than a sign on the ward wall... (Press Release)

8 November 2002

Implementing SIGN Guidelines: A national challenge presentations added to website.

1 November 2002

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): new Scottish medical advice issued as uncertainty continues over possible long-distance travel risks. (Press Release)

21 October 2002

Addition of Guideline No. 62 Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism.

7 October 2002

Addition of Guideline No. 61 Investigation of Post-menopausal Bleeding.
New clinical guideline on post-menopausal bleeding issued following increase in HRT use. (Press Release)

20 June 2002

Addition of Guideline No. 60 Postnatal Depression and Puerperal Psychosis.
Scottish mothers and families to benefit from post-natal depression guideline. (Press Release)

12 June 2002

Addition of Guideline No. 59 Community Management of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Adults.
Scottish NHS staff to receive new antibiotic prescribing guidelines to reduce spread of drug-resistant infections in the community. (Press Release)

10 April 2002

NICE and SIGN - working together to improve patient care.

31 January 2002

Addition of Guideline No. 56 Prevention and Management of Hip Fracture in Older People and Guideline No. 57 Cardiac Rehabilitation.
New Initiative aims to Improve Patients' Uptake of Cardiac Rehabilitation Treatment. (Press Release)

29 January 2002

Doctors, Nurses, Patients & Health Service Managers meet to agree "Life-saving Document". (Press Release)

15 January 2002

New SIGN Chairman Appointed. (Press Release)

13 November 2001

Addition of Guideline No. 55 Management of Diabetes.
Scottish Medical Staff to Receive New Guidelines as part of National Drive to Improve Treatment of Diabetes. (Press Release)

25 October 2001

Addition of Guideline No. 54 Perioperative Blood Transfusion for Elective Surgery.

31 August 2001

Statins Update: Withdrawal of cerivastatin

Earlier this month the cholesterol-lowering drug cerivastatin was withdrawn from use in worldwide markets, except Japan, as a result of being linked with the deaths of 31 adults in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that the deaths were attributable to an unusual side effect known as rhabdomyolysis (or the breakdown of muscle).

In recent years SIGN has published two clinical guidelines in which the prescribing of statins was covered (SIGN 40: Lipids and the primary prevention of coronary heart disease and SIGN 41: Secondary prevention of coronary heart disease following myocardial infarction). These guidelines recognised that "there have been no reported long term intervention trials of atorvastatin, cerivastatin or fluvastatin and they do not have as comprehensive long term safety data as the other statins". As has also been stated within these guidelines "drug choice should be made on the balance of trial evidence, safety and cost-effectiveness considerations".