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Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services V3

The Intensive Care Society (ICS) and the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM) have now published the third edition of the Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services (GPICS). The new edition has been fully updated in close collaboration with patients and families, and includes new information on issues relating to sustainability, and equality, diversity and inclusion.

Read GPICS version 3

 

What is Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services Version 3 (GPICS V3)?

Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services Version 3 (GPICS V3) is a guideline that helps hospitals in the UK run adult intensive care units safely. It is produced by:

  • The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine
  • The Intensive Care Society

Earlier versions were made in 2015, 2019 and 2022.

GPICS helps hospitals:

  • Give very ill patients high-quality care wherever they are in the UK
  • Continually improve their services
  • Ask for more staff, space or equipment if needed

Groups that check hospital quality, such as the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England, also use GPICS. In Scotland, Scottish Intensive Care Society Audit Group (SICSAG) uses GPICS to help check how well intensive care units are working.

What is in each chapter?

GPICS V3 is split into sections that look at different parts of intensive care.

Each chapter includes:

  • Introduction (which explains the subject)
  • Minimum Standards
  • Quality Recommendations
  • Background information
  • References
    Some chapters also have additional resources.

What are Minimum Standards?

These are the basic rules every intensive care unit must meet to keep patients safe.
If a unit cannot meet one, it must be written down and the hospital must try to improve.

What are Quality Recommendations?

These are suggestions and actions that help a service reach high-quality care.
They help units improve and grow.

Keeping GPICS up to date

The Minimum Standards and Quality Recommendations are checked regularly.
They change when new evidence or ways of working change.

Who helped produce GPICS V3?

This version was produced with help from:

  • Some of the UK’s top intensive care experts - doctors, doctors in training, nurses and healthcare professionals
  • Patient and public representatives
  • An Equality, Diversity & Inclusion lead
  • Representatives from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland