SIGN guidelines

Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN)

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) was formed in 1993. It's objective is 'to improve the quality of health care for patients in Scotland by reducing variation in practice and outcome, through the development and dissemination of national clinical guidelines containing recommendations for effective practice based on current evidence' (SIGN web site, 2001).

The work of SIGN is supported by an Executive based at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh and is funded by the Clinical Resource & Audit Group (CRAG) of the Scottish Executive Health Department.

SIGN has a programme of 60 evidence-based clinical guidelines - published, in development, or under review - covering a wide range of topics. Many of the SIGN guidelines relate to the NHS priority areas of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and mental health.

Multidisciplinary working groups develop SIGN guidelines with representation from across Scotland. The guideline development groups are selected in consultation with the member organisations of SIGN. The Professions Allied to Medicine has one representative, Dr Lesley Holdsworth MCSP.

If you want to be involved in the development of a guideline, please contact the CSP via the enquiries team: 020 7306 6666.

A full list of the published guidelines and those under development can be found on the SIGN web site.

Guideline open meetings

For every guideline it develops, SIGN holds a national open meeting to give the guideline development group the opportunity to present their preliminary conclusions and draft recommendations to a wider audience. Often the development group obtains valuable feedback and suggestions for additional evidence they might consider, or alternative interpretation of that evidence. Participants are able to contribute to and influence the form of the final guideline.

All meetings are full day meetings and will be held at the Royal College of Physicians Edinburgh unless otherwise specified.

If you are interested in attending any of these meetings please contact Lesley Forsyth at the SIGN Executive, Royal College of Physicians, 9 Queen Street, Edinburgh EH2 1JQ, Scotland. Tel +44 (0) 131 247 3658, Fax +44 (0) 131 225 1769 or email for further information.