The RCOG has developed the Clinical Governance Advice series to assist Fellows and Members in discharging their clinical responsibilities.
We champion all efforts to advance care standards. These guidelines give details of the governance strategies that safeguard these standards.
Browse our clinical governance guidelines
The guidelines collated here are the latest papers and advice from a range of trusted healthcare organisations. Each resource presents recognised methods and techniques for clinical practice, based on published evidence. We hope that this information will be useful for obstetricians, gynaecologists and other relevant health professionals who aim to continuously improve the quality of their care.
You’ll find that some leaflets use the terms 'woman' and ‘women’s health’, however, it’s important to acknowledge that this information is not only for people who identify as women. These leaflets provide necessary guidance on health and reproductive services to all those who need to maintain their gynaecological and reproductive wellbeing. Delivery of O&G advice and care aims to be fully inclusive and sensitive to the needs of anyone whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Clinical Governance Advice
Obtaining Valid Consent to Participate in Perinatal Research Where Consent is Time Critical (Clinical Governance Advice No. 6a)
This document provides a good practice framework for obtaining consent for participation in research during labour or immediately postpartum.
Development of RCOG Green-top Guidelines (Clinical Governance Advice No. 1)
This guidance has been archived.
Please see the RCOG handbook Developing a Green-top Guideline: Guidance for developers (PDF 2.4mb) for how to develop a Green-top Guideline.
Obtaining Valid Consent (Clinical Governance Advice No. 6)
This guidance was archived on 11 January 2024.
Please see Professional standards for doctors Decision making and consent, produced by the General Medical Council, and other useful resources listed in the RCOG Consent section.
Obtaining Valid Consent for Complex Gynaecological Surgery (Clinical Governance Advice No. 6b)
This guidance was archived on 19 April 2024.
Please see Professional standards for doctors Decision making and consent, produced by the General Medical Council, and other useful resources listed in the RCOG Consent section.
Development of RCOG Green-top Guidelines: Consensus Methods for Adaptation of RCOG Green-top Guidelines (Clinical Governance Advice No. 1d)
This document outlines tools that can be used to adapt RCOG Green-top Guidelines, and other guidelines.
Improving Patient Safety: Risk Management for Maternity and Gynaecology (Clinical Governance Advice No. 2)
This guidance was archived on 3 November 2022.
Presenting Information on Risk (Clinical Governance Advice No. 7)
This guidance was archived on 11 January 2024.
Please see Professional standards for doctors Decision making and consent, produced by the General Medical Council, and other useful resources listed in the RCOG Consent section.
Understanding Audit (Clinical Governance Advice No. 5)
This guidance was archived on 3 November 2022.
Please see guidance produced by the Health Quality Improvement Partnership: A guide to quality improvement tools and Clinical audit: a guide for NHS boards and partners.