Introduction

From the inception of PiP, it was recognised that developing clinical guidelines together, was an efficient use of time and would assist PiP in meeting one of its objectives, "to improve the quality of services for children".

Developing quality guidelines that will be useful at the patient doctor interface, is a very challenging agenda. Consequently, PiP was delighted to join with The Bedside Clinical Guidelines Partnership Group, who had already developed a methodology and a team approach to developing adult medical guidelines, which had been implemented in many of the PiP Partnership organisations.

The guidelines contain completed clinical guidelines and the titles of those guidelines which are available in the handbook. The author of any guideline can contact Dr Paddy McMaster who undertakes on their behalf an expert literature review to find answers to specific questions. The outcome of these literature reviews or any other supporting information about the guideline can be found on the evidence pages, which are linked to each guideline. These pages contain a wealth of useful information. However, if you know of additional evidence that has not been considered in answering any of the questions, Paddy would be delighted to hear from you.

More information about the guidelines project and the authors is available on the guidelines project page. If you would like to comment on a guideline or become involved as a writer or reviewer, then contact Kay Hall, Assistant Guidelines Co-ordinator.