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Important: please update your RDS app to version 4.7.3 Details with newsletter below.

Please update your RDS app to v4.7.3

We asked you in January to update to v4.7.2.  After the deployment planned for 27th February, this new update will be needed to ensure that you are able to download RDS toolkits even when the RDS website is not available. We will wait until as many users as possible have downloaded the new version before switching off the old system for app downloads and moving entirely to the new approach.

To check your current RDS version, click on the three dots bottom right of the RDS app screen. This takes you to a “More” page where you will see the version number. 

To update to the latest release:

 On iPhones – go to the Apple store, click on your profile icon top right, scroll down to see the apps waiting to be updated and update the RDS app.

On Android phones – these can vary, but try going to the Google Play store, click on your profile icon top right, click on “Manage apps and device”, select and update the RDS app.

Right Decision Service newsletter: February 2025

Welcome to the February 2025 update from the RDS team

1.     Next release of RDS

 

A new release of RDS is planned (subject to outcomes of current testing) for week beginning 24th February. This will deliver:

 

  • Fixes to mitigate the recurring glitches with the RDS admin area and the occasional brief user interface outages which have arisen following implementation of the new distributed technology infrastructure in December 2024.

 

  • Capability to embed content from Google calendar, Google Maps, Daily Motion, Twitter feeds, Microsoft Stream into RDS pages.

 

  • Capability to include simple multiplication in RDS calculators.

 

The release will also incorporate a number of small fixes, including:

  • Exporting of form within Medicines Sick Day Guidance in polypharmacy toolkit
  • Links to redundant content appearing in search in some RDS toolkits
  • Inclusion of accordion headers alongside accordion text in search result snippets.
  • Feedback form on mobile app.
  • Internal links on mobile app version of benzo tapering tool

 

We will let you know when the date and time for the new release are confirmed.

 

2.     New RDS developments

There is now the capability to publish toolkits on the web with left hand side navigation rather than tiles on the homepage. To use this feature, turn on the “Toggle navigation panel” option at the top of the Page settings menu at toolkit homepage level – see below. Please note that publication to downloadable mobile app for this type of navigation is still under development.

The Benzodiazepine tapering tool (https://rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/benzotapering) is now available as part of the RDS toolkit for the national benzodiazepine prescribing guidance developed by the Scottish Government Effective Prescribing team. The tool uses this national guidance developed with a wide-ranging multidisciplinary group. This should be used in combination with professional judgement and an understanding of the needs of the individual patient.

3.     Archiving and version control and new RDS Search and Browse interface

Due to the intensive work Tactuum has had to undertake on the new technology infrastructure has pushed back the delivery dates again and some new requirements have come out of the recent user acceptance testing. It now looks likely to be an April release for the search and browse interface. The archiving and version control functionality may be released earlier. We’ll keep you posted.

4.     Statistics

At the end of January, Olivia completed the generation of the latest set of usage statistics for all RDS toolkits. If you would like a copy of the stats for your toolkit, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot .

 

5.     Review of content past its review date

We have now generated reports of all RDS toolkit content that has exceeded its review date by 6 months or more. We will be in touch later this month with toolkit owners and editors to agree the plan for updating or withdrawing out of date content.

 

6.     Toolkits in development

Some important toolkits in development by the RDS team include:

  • National CVD prevention pathways – due for release end of March 2025.
  • National respiratory pathways, optimal cancer diagnostic pathways and cancer prehabilitation pathways from the Centre for Sustainable Delivery. We will shortly start work on the national cancer referral pathways, first version due for release via RDS around end of June 2025.
  • HIS Quality of Care Review toolkit – currently in final stages of quality assurance.

 

The RDS team and other information scientists in HIS have also been producing evidence summaries for the Scottish Government Realistic Medicine team, to inform development of national guidance around Procedures of Limited Clinical Value. This guidance will in due course be translated into an RDS toolkit.

 

7. Training sessions for new editors (also serve as refresher sessions for existing editors) will take place on the following dates:

  • Friday 28th February 12-1 pm
  • Tuesday 11th March 4-5 pm

 

To book a place, please contact Olivia.graham@nhs.scot, providing your name, organisation, job role, and level of experience with RDS editing (none, a little, moderate, extensive.)

 

To invite colleagues to sign up to receive this newsletter, please signpost them to the registration form  - also available in End-user and Provider sections of the RDS Learning and Support area.   If you have any questions about the content of this newsletter, please contact his.decisionsupport@nhs.scot  If you would prefer not to receive future newsletters, please email Olivia.graham@nhs.scot and ask to be removed from the circulation list.

With kind regards

 

Right Decision Service team

Healthcare Improvement Scotland

 

 

Expectant Management of First Trimester Miscarriage (679)

Objectives

This guideline is designed for use within the Early Pregnancy Assessment Services across GGC. The objective is to provide safe management for women diagnosed with a non-continuing pregnancy who wish expectant management up to 12 weeks gestation.

Please report any inaccuracies or issues with this guideline using our online form

Management (as per NICE)

Current NICE guidance [1,2] advises use of expectant management for 7–14 days as the first-line management strategy for women with a confirmed diagnosis of miscarriage. Explore management options other than expectant management if:

  • expectant management is not acceptable or
  • the woman is at increased risk of haemorrhage (for example, she is in the late first trimester) or
  • she has previous adverse and/or traumatic experience associated with pregnancy (for example, stillbirth, miscarriage or antepartum haemorrhage) or
  • she is at increased risk from the effects of haemorrhage (for example, if she has coagulopathies or is unable to have a blood transfusion) or
  • there is evidence of infection.

Explain what expectant management involves and that most women will need no further treatment (successful for 70-80% patients). Give all women oral and written information about what to expect throughout the process, advice on pain relief and where and when to get help in an emergency. Also provide women with oral and written information about further treatment options – medical or surgical (MVA or under GA). Written consent is not mandatory.

Give an appointment for 2-3 weeks’ time and offer a repeat scan. The patient should then be reviewed at 2-weekly intervals if she continues to opt for conservative management. Consider checking FBC/CRP. If ongoing bleeding and/or positive pregnancy test, the patient needs review and USS. Discuss alternative management options of miscarriage.

Exclusion criteria

Women who are/have:

  • Haemodynamically unstable
  • Hb <100g/l
  • Twin or higher order pregnancy
  • Specific haematological disorder (consider on individual basis) or would refuse blood products (e.g. Jehovah’s Witness)
  • Women must live or be able to stay locally so as to be able to access emergency admission if required and be able to attend within 1 hour.

Additional Management

  • Anti-D – not required for cases of complete miscarriage under 12+0 weeks gestation where there has been no formal intervention to evacuate the uterus. Anti-D IM required in non-sensitised Rh negative mothers if >12 weeks or if associated with heavy bleeding3 (dose as per current local guideline).
  • Antibiotic prophylaxis should not be given routinely and should only be given based on individual clinical indications.
  • Ensure appropriate patient information given – written leaflet given where possible.
  • If there are any concerns, or at the patient’s request, appropriate review should be arranged.
  • Ensure women understand the expected size of fetus and placenta to be passed.
  • Ensure the patient has analgesia at home or can prescribe analgesia such as Co-codamol if none available.
  • Inform all relevant primary care professionals of pregnancy outcome and management. Cancel any antenatal clinic appointments or scans.
  • Discuss histopathological examination and disposal of pregnancy products in line with trust policy. If tissue is passed at home, this can be appropriately disposed of at the time or can be brought in to hospital for pathology/genetics if the patient wishes. If POC are passed in hospital, signed agreement for sensitive disposal by the hospital is required (SD7 form).

Patient counselling and follow-up support is particularly important for women who adopt an expectant approach. They should be aware that complete resolution may take several weeks. Women and their families should be fully informed regarding the likely course of events, and given information on how to access the appropriate services in an emergency situation.

Appendix 1 SD7 form

SD7 form

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 01/04/2019

Next review date: 01/04/2024

Author(s): Ruth Jewell.

Approved By: Gynaecological Clinical Governance Group

Document Id: 679

References
  1. NICE. Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage: diagnosis and initial management [CG154]. 2019.
  2. NICE pathway for medical management of incomplete or missed miscarriage. 2015.
  3. Qureshi H et al. British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH) guideline for the use of anti-D immunoglobulin for the prevention of haemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. Transfusion Medicine. 2014; 24(1): pp8-20.