Good Practice Papers

Good Practice Papers are produced by the Patient Safety Committee.

Below, you can browse Good Practice Papers by year published, or by title in the section navigator.

For enquiries about Good Practice Papers, please contact Michelle Sadler, Guidance Editorial Manager msadler@rcog.org.uk. 

If you would like to propose a new Good Practice Paper, please complete the Topic Proposal Form and email it to clinicaleffectiveness@rcog.org.uk.

Managing Events Surrounding a Maternal Death and Supporting the Family and Staff (Good Practice Paper No. 18)

This paper provides operational guidance for all healthcare professionals in maternity services, and all other specialties supporting partners, families and staff following a maternal death, with the intention of making the process compassionate, consistent and straightforward for all those involved.

Published 7 February 2024

Maternity Triage (Good Practice Paper No.17)

This document highlights the challenges in maternity triage departments and defines their role as emergency portals into maternity units for unscheduled attendances.

Published: 04/12/2023

Pain Relief and Informed Decision Making for Outpatient Hysteroscopy (Good Practice Paper No. 16)

This document provides guidance to those who are involved in providing outpatient hysteroscopy, with the aim of achieving optimal outcomes for women.

Published: 07/02/2023

Reconfiguration of Women’s Services in the UK (Good Practice No. 15)

This document has been archived. Please refer to the RCOG's Better for Women report.

Registration of Stillbirths and Certification for Pregnancy Loss Before 24 Weeks of Gestation (Good Practice No. 4)

Published 23/11/2011

Cardiac Disease and Pregnancy (Good Practice No. 13)

This document has been archived. Please refer to the European Society of Cardiology guideline Cardiovascular Diseases during Pregnancy (Management of) Guidelines.

Management of Women with Mental Health Issues during Pregnancy and the Postnatal Period (Good Practice No. 14)

This document provides guidance on the diagnosis and management of postnatal depression.

Published 09/06/2011

Improving Patient Handover (Good Practice No. 12)

This guidance shares good practice on effective handover of teams.

Published 29/12/2010

Advice on Returning to Clinical Practice after a Period of Absence (Good Practice No. 1)

This document has been archived. Please refer to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Return to Practice Guidance.

Classification of Urgency of Caesarean Section – a Continuum of Risk (Good Practice No. 11)

This document has been archived. Please refer to NICE guideline [NG192] Caesarean Birth.

Labour Ward Solutions (Good Practice No. 10)

This document provides guidance for those responsible for implementing the expansion of consultant presence on the labour ward.

Published 26/01/2010

Gynaecology: Emergency Services Standards of Practice and Service Organisation (Good Practice No. 9)

This guidance sets out the principles for service organisation and delivery of emergency gynaecology.

Published 15/06/2009

Responsibility of Consultant On-call (Good Practice No. 8)

This Good Practice Paper has been archived and replaced by the workforce report "Roles and Responsibilities of a Consultant".

Maternity Dashboard: Clinical Performance and Governance Score Card (Good Practice No. 7)

This guidance has been archived. Please see NHS Digital Maternity Services Dashboard for England and Public Health Scotland Scottish pregnancy, births and neonatal data dashboard for Scotland.

The Role of Emergency and Elective Interventional Radiology in Postpartum Haemorrhage (Good Practice No. 6)

Published 01/06/2007

Disposal following Pregnancy Loss before 24 Weeks of Gestation (Good Practice No. 5)

This document has been archived.

Please see the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) guidance on the disposal of pregnancy remains following pregnancy loss or termination (PDF).

Minimum Standards in Respect of Elective Work Performed during a Consultant’s Absence (Good Practice No. 3)

Published 1/09/2004