Guidance, Publications & Reports
On this page you will find useful documents, publications and reports including recent work of the BCS Clinical Standards Division. The remit of the division is to define and agree national clinical and professional standards for individual and organisational practice in cardiovascular healthcare, review clinical and professional standards published by national organisations and to advise on regulatory and professional matters which could affect the practice of cardiovascular healthcare in the UK. To review, and where felt appropriate, endorse guidelines and to consider and respond to issues relating to the professional clinical practice of Society members.
BCS Guidance, Recommendations & Responses
The BCS working group, with input from representatives from BCIS, BHRS, radiology, occupational health and human resources have compiled this document to assist trainees, their supervisors, consultants and their colleagues with issues around radiation in pregnancy, pregnancy loss, fertility treatment, antenatal care, maternity leave and parental leave.
In an easy-to-understand FAQ format, information regarding these often poorly understood issues is provided in the hope that all cardiology trainees and consultants experience high levels of support and understanding during what can be a very challenging time for them.
Resources for pregnant cardiologists, their partners & supervisors
Created: 20 August 2021
The British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) released a Joint Statement together with the British Heart Valve Society (BHVS), the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgeons (SCTS), the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE), the Primary Care Cardiovascular Society (PCCS) and the British Congenital Cardiac Association (BCCA) on Anticoagulation of Patients with Mechanical Heart Valves.
Statement on on Anticoagulation of Patients with Mechanical Heart Valves.
BCS, BHVS, SCTS, BSE, PCCS, BCCA.
The BCS has been working with the Association for Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia and Critical Care, the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society, the British Heart Valve Society and the Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery to produce joint guidance on the structure and function of cardiac multidisciplinary meetings.
Getting the best from the Heart Team:
Guidance For The Structure & Function Of Cardiac Multidisciplinary Meetings
ACTACC, BCS, BCIS, BHVS, SCTS
Public Health England (PHE) has now produced updated guidance on recommended PPE, endorsed by the four Chief Medical Officers. BCS, BCIS and BHRS would like to offer some guidance that interprets these principles in the context of cardiology-specific scenarios. This guidance adopts an approach in which the PPE strategy is dependent upon both (a) the location in which patient contact occurs and (b) the likelihood that the contact will involve an aerosol generating procedure (AGP).
BCS, BCIS & BHRS Response to: Public Health England Updated Guidance on PPE
BCS, BCIS, BHRS,
Guidance document regarding the NHS England and NHS Improvement | NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) operating framework for urgent and planned services during COVID-19 which sets out some broad guidance on the screening of both patients and staff.
The purpose of the document is to place the generic guidance into the context of cardiology services. It is not intended to be didactic but to provide a framework for the development of local arrangements.
NB: It is a live document and may change as more information becomes available and the population prevalence of COVID-19 alters.
Created: 2 June 2020
The view of the BCS and the BSH is that there is no evidence to support this assertion and we share the view of the European Society of Hypertension and the Renal Association that patients should continue treatment with ACEi and ARB unless specifically advised to stop by their medical team.
Patients taking these drugs and presenting unwell with suspected or known COVID-19 infection should be assessed on an individual basis and their medication managed according to established guidance (Heart 2019;105:904-10).
BSH & BCS Joint statement on ACEi or ARB in relation to COVID-19
Created: 19 March 2020
BCS Reports
There is a widespread realisation that many innovations prompted by COVID will be beneficial in the longer term and should be adopted into routine practice. The Future of Cardiology Report aims to summarise these innovations and provide a framework for their incorporation into routine clinical practice.
View/Download The Future of Cardiology Report.
Commissioned and Chaired by the British Cardiovascular Society
BCS, BCCA, BCIS, BHRS, NICOR, SCST
BCS Reviews of ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines
In 2020, five new clinical practice guidelines were published by the European Society of Cardiology. The BCS Clinical Standards Group has reviewed the guidelines and written short summaries with a focus on what is new and any important differences from UK NICE guidance.
Management of Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)
By Dr Jayant Kakarla
"These guidelines provide a significant update in the structuring of care, assessment and management of the broad spectrum of pathologies enc....
Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation
By Dr Siddhartha Mengi, MD
"Comparing with the most recent (draft) AF NICE guidance, the main recommendations which differ from....
Read more....
Sports Cardiology and Exercise in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease
By Gaurav S. Gulsin and Damian J. Kelly
"The 2005 ESC guidelines were for competitive sports participation in athletes with cardiovascular disease (CVD). This year’s updated guidelines broaden the scope to include all patients, with and....
Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes in Patients Presenting Without Persistent ST-Segment Elevation
By Dr Nina Karia
"Guidance for antiplatelet therapy has become more detailed. There is now a distinction based on if the patient is likely to undergo coronary intervention....
.
Review of: 2019 ESC Guidelines on Diabetes CVD
Review of: 2019 ESC Guidelines on Acute Pulmonary Embolism
Review of: 2019 ESC Guidelines on Chronic Coronary Syndromes
Review of: 2019 ESC Guidelines on Dyspilipaemia
Review of: 2019 ESC Guidelines on Supraventricular Tachycardias (SVT)