Our guidelines
This is a list of current guidelines, guidelines under development and archived guidelines that have been or are being developed or updated by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network.
| Number | Title | Topic | Published |
|---|
| Title | Topic | Status | Remit | Pub Date (estimated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asthma (SIGN/BTS/NICE) |
Respiratory |
In Progress | A joint guideline for the diagnosis, monitoring and management of chronic asthma. | Autumn 2024 |
| Management of Chronic pain 2023 update |
Central nervous system |
In Progress | This guideline will focus on assessing and managing chronic pain (pain lasting longer than 12 weeks) in adults. It will apply to non-specialist healthcare settings that are not specifically designed for treating chronic pain. Self management, pharmacological, psychological, physical, complementary and dietary therapies are covered. Pain related to cancer is not covered. | Summer 2025 |
| Type 2 diabetes prevention |
Endocrine Nutritional and Metabolic |
In Progress | The guideline will cover identification of adults at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, non-pharmacological interventions and pharmacological interventions that prevent progression to type 2 diabetes in individuals at increased risk, and achieving remission of type 2 diabetes. | Autumn 2024 |
This is a list of topics that have been proposed to SIGN. Further details of the process can be found here.
| Subject | Topic | Request Type | Proposer | Stage | Proposal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Management of metastatic breast cancer |
Cancer |
New | Dr Tom Berry | Accepted | Metastatic breast cancer proposal |
| Refresh: Non-pharmaceutical management of depression |
Mental health and behavioural conditions |
Refresh | Hannah Brisbane | Accepted | |
| Update: Acute coronary syndrome |
Cardiovascular |
Refresh | 3-year scope | Accepted | |
| Update: Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery |
Other |
Refresh | Accepted | ||
| Update: Antithrombotics: indications and management |
Other |
Refresh | Accepted | ||
| Update: Management of chronic venous leg ulcers |
Skin |
Refresh | Julie Brittenden | On programme | |
| Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) |
Cardiovascular |
New | Adrian Brady | Accepted | VTE/PE proposal |
| Number | Title | Topic | Published | Status | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 | 92 Management of hepatitis C |
Infectious disease |
2006 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 133 |
| 93 | 93 Acute coronary syndromes |
Central nervous system |
2007 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 148 |
| 104 | Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery |
Other |
2008 | Archived | Withdrawn June 2018 |
| 82 | Bipolar affective disorder |
Mental health and behavioural conditions |
2005 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn May 2015 |
| 153 | British guideline on the management of Asthma - Superseded |
Respiratory |
2016 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 158 |
| 91 | Bronchiolitis in children |
Respiratory |
2006 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn November 2016 |
| 139 | Care of deteriorating patients - withdrawn |
Other |
2014 | Archived | Withdrawn June 2023 |
| 1 | Clinical guidelines: Criteria for appraisal for national use |
Other |
1995 | Archived | Superseded by SIGN 50 |
| 59 | Community management of lower respiratory tract infection in adults |
Respiratory |
2002 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn June 2012 |
| 106 | Control of pain in adults with cancer |
Central nervous system |
2008 | Archived | Withdrawn July 2018 |
| 66 | Diagnosis and management of childhood otitis media in primary care |
Respiratory |
2003 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn February 2013 |
| 103 | Diagnosis and management of chronic kidney disease |
Urogenital |
2008 | Archived | Withdrawn June 2018 |
| 81 | Diagnosis and management of epilepsies in children and young people |
Central nervous system |
2005 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn March 2015 |
| 90 | Diagnosis and management of head and neck cancer |
Cancer |
2006 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn October 2016 |
| 107 | Diagnosis and management of headache in adults |
Central nervous system |
2008 | Archived | Withdrawn August 2018 |
| 121 | Diagnosis and management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in adults |
Skin |
2010 | Archived | Withdrawn October 2020 |
| 113 | Diagnosis and pharmacological management of Parkinson's disease |
Central nervous system |
2010 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn February 2020 |
| 68 | Dyspepsia |
Digestive System |
2003 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn March 2013 |
| 110 | Early management of patients with a head injury |
Central nervous system |
2009 | Archived | Withdrawn May 2019 |
| 75 | Epithelial ovarian cancer |
Cancer |
2003 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 135 |
| 61 | Investigation of post-menopausal bleeding |
Gynaecology pregnancy and birth |
2002 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn September 2012 |
| 105 | Management of acute upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding |
Digestive System |
2008 | Archived | Withdrawn July 2018 |
| 124 | Management of adult testicular germ cell tumours |
Cancer |
2011 | Archived | Withdrawn March 2021 |
| 125 | Management of atopic eczema in primary care |
Skin |
2011 | Archived | Withdrawn March 2021 |
| 112 | Management of attention deficit and hyperkinetic disorders in children and young people |
Mental health and behavioural conditions |
2009 | Archived | Withdrawn September 2019 |
| 84 | Management of breast cancer in women |
Cancer |
2005 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn December 2015 |
| 99 | Management of cervical cancer |
Cancer |
2008 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn January 2018 |
| 120 | Management of chronic venous leg ulcers |
Skin |
2010 | Archived | Withdrawn August 2020 |
| 67 | Management of colorectal cancer |
Cancer |
2003 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 126 |
| 123 | Management of early rheumatoid arthritis |
Musculoskeletal |
2011 | Archived | Withdrawn February 2021 |
| 109 | Management of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infection |
Urogenital |
2009 | Archived | Withdrawn July 2019 |
| 111 | Management of hip fracture in older people |
Musculoskeletal |
2009 | Archived | Withdrawn June 2019 |
| 102 | Management of invasive meningococcal disease in children and young people |
Infectious disease |
2008 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn May 2018 |
| 115 | Management of obesity |
Digestive System |
2010 | Archived | Withdrawn February 2020 |
| 69 | Management of obesity in children and young people |
Digestive System |
2003 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 115 |
| 73 | Management of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnoea syndrome in adults |
Other |
2003 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn June 2013 |
| 87 | Management of oesophageal and gastric cancer |
Cancer |
2006 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn June 2016 |
| 71 | Management of osteoporosis |
Musculoskeletal |
2003 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn June 2013 |
| 80 | Management of patients with lung cancer |
Cancer |
2005 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 137 |
| 108 | Management of patients with stroke or TIA: Assessment, investigation, immediate management |
Cardiovascular |
2008 | Archived | Withdrawn July 2018 |
| 119 | Management of patients with stroke: Identification and management of dysphagia |
Cardiovascular |
2010 | Archived | Withdrawn June 2020 |
| 118 | Management of patients with stroke: Rehabilitation, prevention and management of complications, and discharge planning |
Cardiovascular |
2010 | Archived | Withdrawn June 2020 |
| 127 | Management of perinatal mood disorders |
Gynaecology pregnancy and birth |
2012 | Archived | Superseded by SIGN 169 |
| 117 | Management of sore throat and indications for tonsillectomy |
Ear Nose and Throat |
2010 | Archived | Withdrawn April 2020 |
| 88 | Management of suspected bacterial urinary tract infection in adults - superseded |
Urogenital |
2006 | Archived | Superseded by SIGN 160 |
| 85 | Management of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder |
Cancer |
2005 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn December 2015 |
| 79 | Management of urinary incontinence in primary care |
Urogenital |
2004 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn December 2014 |
| 114 | Non-pharmaceutical management of depression |
Mental health and behavioural conditions |
2010 | Archived | Withdrawn February 2020 |
| 54 | Perioperative Blood Transfusion for Elective Surgery |
Other |
2001 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn |
| 60 | Postnatal depression and puerperal psychosis |
Gynaecology pregnancy and birth |
2002 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 127 |
| 77 | Postoperative management in adults |
Other |
2004 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn August 2014 |
| 83 | Prevention and management of dental decay in the pre-school child |
Mouth and Dental |
2005 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn November 2015 |
| 56 | Prevention and management of hip fracture in older people |
Musculoskeletal |
2002 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 111 |
| 4 | Prevention of Visual Impairment in Diabetic Patients |
Endocrine Nutritional and Metabolic |
1996 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 116 |
| 62 | Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism |
Cardiovascular |
2002 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn October 2012 |
| 58 | Safe Sedation of Children Undergoing Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures |
Other |
2004 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn May 2014 |
| 101 | SIGN 101 British guideline on the management of Asthma |
Respiratory |
2008 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 141 |
| 2 | SIGN 2 Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism |
Cardiovascular |
1995 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 62 |
| 5 | SIGN 5 The Immediate Discharge Document |
Other |
1996 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 128 |
| 55 | SIGN 55 Management of Diabetes |
Endocrine Nutritional and Metabolic |
2001 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 116 |
| 57 | SIGN 57 Cardiac rehabilitation |
Cardiovascular |
2002 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn January 2012 |
| 63 | SIGN 63 British guideline on the management of Asthma |
Respiratory |
2003 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 101 |
| 64 | SIGN 64 Management of patients with stroke: rehabilitation, prevention and management of complications, and discharge planning |
Cardiovascular |
2002 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 118 |
| 70 | SIGN 70 Diagnosis and management of epilepsy in adults |
Central nervous system |
2003 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 143 |
| 72 | SIGN 72 Cutaneous melanoma |
Cancer |
2003 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn July 2013 |
| 76 | SIGN 76 Long term follow up of survivors of childhood cancer |
Cancer |
2004 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 132 |
| 78 | SIGN 78 Management of patients with stroke: Identification and management of dysphagia |
Cardiovascular |
2004 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 119 |
| 94 | SIGN 94 Cardiac arrhythmias in coronary heart disease |
Cardiovascular |
2007 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 152 |
| 95 | SIGN 95 Management of chronic heart failure |
Cardiovascular |
2007 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 147 |
| 96 | SIGN 96 Management of stable angina |
Cardiovascular |
2007 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 151 |
| 97 | SIGN 97 Risk estimation and the prevention of cardiovascular disease |
Cardiovascular |
2007 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 149 |
| 98 | SIGN 98 Assessment, diagnosis and clinical interventions for children and young people with autism spectrum disorders |
Mental health and behavioural conditions |
2007 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 145 |
| 65 | The immediate discharge document |
Other |
2003 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 128 |
| 74 | The management of harmful drinking and alcohol dependence in primary care |
Other |
2003 | Withdrawn | Withdrawn September 2013 |
| 3 | The Use of Palliative Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer |
Cancer |
1996 | Superseded | Superseded by SIGN 137 |
These guidelines are withdrawn when they are 10 years old. Without a full review of the evidence it is not possible to be certain that a guideline: :
- remains relevant to NHS Scotland
- makes recommendations based on the most up-to-date evidence for best practice
- does not recommend unsafe practice, and
- complies with current mandatory advice or government policy.
If there is still a need for a withdrawn guideline, please propose a topic.
SIGN guideline recommendations are available on the move with the award-winning SIGN app for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and Android phones and tablets.
- optimised for the latest operating systems
- updated content
- re-designed for improved legibility
- send PDF button feature
- split screen feature (iPad