Guidelines and Standards
As the professional body for UK cardiovascular medicine, the BCS produces its own guidelines, as well as contributing on externally-produced guidelines from the UK and Europe.
BCS Guidelines
As the professional body for UK cardiovascular medicine the BCS produces clinical standards and statements on aspects of care, often in partnership with one or more affiliate societies.
We do this where there are gaps in available guidelines, or in fast-moving clinical situations such as Covid-19. These guidelines are listed below.
Work on the BCS Guidelines is led by the Guidelines and Practice Committee.
Resources for pregnant cardiologists, their partners and supervisors (2021)
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: August 2021
Joint Statement on Anticoagulation of Patients with Mechanical Heart Valves (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.
Guidance for cardiac multidisciplinary meetings (2021)
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.
Externally produced Guidelines and Standards
Additionally, the BCS is regularly asked to provide expert opinion on externally-produced clinical guidelines and standards, such as those produced by NICE, and consulted by the Royal College of Physicians and government bodies on aspects of cardiovascular care.
This work is led by our Vice-President for Clinical Standards Dr Andrew Ludman and our Guidelines and Practice Committee. We are also able to call on our wider membership for the necessary expertise and are grateful to our members, in many cases leading international clinicians and academics, for their support in ensuring that national guidelines reflect the latest research and best practice in diagnosis and management.
ESC Guidelines
The BCS also endorses guidelines produced by the European Society for Cardiology.