CPG Design and Format Improvement

HealthPathways — using geolocation to provide local specialist and service information to GPs — was cited as a complementary model for localised referral integration alongside national guidelines. The CPG development process uses consensus where evidence is limited, with endorsement provided at committee meetings after subspecialist consultation. Recommended CPG design changes include prominent key action points, greater use of flowcharts and decision algorithms, and symptom-based rather than diagnosis-based guidelines. Developing symptom-based rather than diagnosis-based guidelines was suggested to better match how clinicians reason during acute presentations where the diagnosis may not yet be established.