NICE CKS vs SIGN Guidelines (2025): England vs Scotland

Last reviewed: 2025-12-19 · Reviewed by

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At a Glance

Who is it for?

NICE CKS:GPs (England)

SIGN Guidelines:Hospital & GPs (Scotland)

Why choose NICE CKS?

  • **Summary Format**: Designed specifically for quick GP reference.
  • **Topic Choice**: Covers common GP conditions (e.g., Chilblains) that SIGN ignores.
  • **NICE Aligned**: Matches English funding/prescribing rules.

Why choose SIGN Guidelines?

  • **Depth**: More detailed than CKS summaries.
  • **Visuals**: Famous for high-quality flowcharts.
  • **Scope**: Covers secondary care (hospital) treatment in depth.

Feature Comparison

CapabilityNICE CKSSIGN Guidelines
RegionEngland & WalesScotland
TargetGeneral PracticeAll Care Levels

In-Depth Analysis

Overview

If you are in England, you use NICE CKS. If you are in Scotland, you use SIGN.

However, many English GPs use SIGN because their flowcharts are visually superior, and many Scottish GPs use CKS because the summaries are quicker to read. The medicine is 99% the same.

Looking for a faster way?

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Use-Cases

GP Management of Eczema

When to choose NICE CKS

  • **Winner.** Tailored for the 10-minute consult.

When to choose SIGN Guidelines

  • Excellent, but might be too detailed.

Hospital Management of Stroke

When to choose NICE CKS

  • Too basic.

When to choose SIGN Guidelines

  • **Winner.** Comprehensive hospital protocol.