Guidelines For The Provision of Intensive Care Services (GPICS) Version 2.1 Released

Published 14/07/2022
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The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine and the Intensive Care Society are delighted to jointly launch Version 2.1 of the Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services (GPICS).

The first two editions of GPICS were landmark publications on behalf of the adult intensive care community. GPICS has become the definitive source of planning, commissioning, delivering and quality improvement of adult critical care services across the UK.

What is new in this edition?

GPICS version 2.1 builds on the previous publication to encompass the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging literature, changing practice or opinion. These amendments and updates are highlighted throughout the document in orange and summarised on page 7 for ease of reference.

The above revisions have been updated and produced with the aim to capture significant changes that could not wait until the planned re-write which is expected to be published in 2024.

The Intensive Care Society and the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine stand firm on the minimum staffing levels outlined in the 2019 V2 publication and sees no change in V2.1.

GPICS V2.1 co-editors for the Faculty and Society, Dr Peter Macnaughton and Dr Paul Dean, have jointly stated that “the aim of this revision was to attempt where possible to incorporate immediate learning from the impact of the pandemic and spread this across all units via the Guidelines for the Provision of Intensive Care Services V2.1. In addition, chapter authors have been asked to review their chapters and make any amendments to ensure that the guidance and information contained is up to date.”

We are grateful that this latest version of GPICS has been endorsed and supported by 30 organisations, including bodies representing the multi-professional team, interacting services, specialist societies and the devolved nations.

We dedicate GPICS Version 2.1 is to all those who have unfortunately lost loved ones as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine         Intensive Care Society