This section contains the larger, multi-organisation, guidance and frameworks relevant to critical care management including: GPICS, ARDS and maternal critical care.  

These collaborative documents also provide education and information on the topic.

Periodically the Society will post documents here during a consultation phase.

ARDS

ICS/FICM Guideline Development Group have used GRADE methodology to make the following recommendations for the management of adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).The British Thoracic Society supports the recommendations in this guideline.

Appendix A - PRISMA Diagrams
(Adobe PDF File)

GPICS Second Edition - 2019
Read guidelines

Devastating Brain Injury

Twelve practical, pragmatic recommendations to help clinicians deliver safe, effective, equitable and justifiable care to patients with perceived devastating brain injury


Guidance and documentation on diagnosing death using neurological criteria.

Joint guidance from the ICS, FICM and NHS Blood and Transplant

The care of the critically ill woman in childbirth

Joint guidance from the Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association (OAA), Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA), Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), Royal College of Midwives (RCM), Intensive Care Society (ICS) and Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM). 


The care of the critically ill woman in childbirth; enhanced maternal care 2018 summarises recommendations relevant to the care of pregnant or recently pregnant, acutely or chronically unwell women, who require acute hospital maternity and critical care specialist services. The development of this document has been led by the Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association (OAA).

This document replaces the former Joint Standing Committee 2011 standards providing equity of critical and maternity care for the critically-ill pregnant or recently pregnant woman document.

Eye Care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Joint guidance from the Intensive Care Society and Royal College of Opthalmologists


This document aims to provide advice and information for clinical staff who are involved in eye care in the ICU.

Capacity and immediate life preserving interventions

Guidance from the National Medical Leads of the Critical Care Networks, endorsed by the Intensive Care Society

Guidance for the repatriation of critically ill patients from international hospitals to UK critical care units

Guidance from the National Medical Leads of the Critical Care Networks, endorsed by the Intensive Care Society

Rehabilitation handover of patients from Critical Care

Guidance developed by the Critical Care National Networks Nurse Leads and endorsed by the Critical Care Operational Delivery Networks and the Intensive Care Society.

The Critical Care Rehabilitation Handover Guidance aims to provide a structure to enable a comprehensive rehabilitation handover of care when discharging or transferring patients from Critical Care.

Removal of a temporary femoral dialysis line 

Guidance from The Renal Association, British Renal Society and the Intensive Care Society.

Clinically-assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH)

Guidance from the British Medical Association

This guidance covers decisions to start, re-start, continue, or stop clinically-assisted nutrition and hydration guidance (CANH) for adults in England and Wales who lack the capacity to make the decision for themselves.

Clinically assisted nutrition and hydration