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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

 

 

Fetal Gender Determination and Disclosure (Ultrasound) (670)

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

There is no requirement to determine fetal gender within the Fetal Anomaly Screening programme; however disclosure of fetal sex upon request respects a woman’s rightful autonomy over personal health information.

If the Sonographer is able to determine fetal sex with certainty and the patient wishes this information to be divulged to her, the Sonographer should advise the patient of their findings and document the gender in the ultrasound report.

Consent

The Sonographer should establish at the start of the examination whether the patient wishes to know the sex of the baby. If the patient indicates that they do wish to know – verbal consent should be obtained and recorded on the ultrasound report.

The Sonographer should advise the patient that it is not always possible to determine the sex of the baby, that it is not always 100% accurate and that the examination will not be extended to determine this.

There are occasions where the woman may not want to know the sex of the baby but Obstetric and Neonatal Medical Staff require this information for future management. In these circumstances the gender should be recorded on the ultrasound report and clearly stated that the patient does not want to be informed of the gender.

The Ultrasound examination

During the ultrasound examination, fetal gender should be ascertained under direct observation; views including transverse, sagittal and tangential sections of the fetal perineum should be examined.

The male gender should be determined by the clear visualisation of the penis and scrotum. Female gender should be determined by identification of the two or four parallel echogenic lines representing the labia folds.

An ultrasound image demonstrating the fetal genitalia should be recorded and retained in the patient's notes. The Sonographer should document the gender in the ultrasound report.

If clear visualisation of the genitalia is not possible with the prescribed time limits, the examination should not be prolonged or repeated to determine the fetal gender. The Sonographer should document in the notes that they were unable to determine the fetal sex.

Informing the Patient

The Sonographer should either verbally advise the patient of their findings or if requested, complete the 'Gender determination at 20 week Fetal Anomaly Scan' consent form.

The patient is required to sign and date this form. The Sonographer will then complete the tear off slip by circling the gender. The tear off slip will then be folded and handed to the patient. No envelopes will be provided. The signed portion of the consent form will be stored with the ultrasound images within the case notes.

This information should not be shared with the patient’s friends or relatives.

Appendix: Gender determination at 20 week Fetal Anomaly Scan Form

Gender determination at 20 week Fetal Anomaly Scan form (pdf)

Editorial Information

Last reviewed: 30/11/2022

Next review date: 04/11/2027

Author(s): Donna-Maria Bean.

Version: 2

Approved By: Obstetrics Clinical Governance Group

Document Id: 670

References

Harrington, K, Armstrong, V, Freeman, J, Aquilina, J and Campbell, S. (1996), Fetal sexing by ultrasound in the second trimester; maternal preferences and professional ability. Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, (8), p318-321.

Fetal Anomaly and Down’s Syndrome Screening National protocols, Version 2.0 NHS Scotland Screening Programmes – Pregnancy and Newborn Screening, (2011).

Sale of images, determination of Fetal Gender and commercial aspects related to NHS Obstetric Ultrasound examinations. The Society and College of Radiographers, (2011).