Clinical Practice Guidelines
The Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee oversees the development and review of UKKA clinical practice guidelines. It identifies priorities for new and revised guidance and ensures that guidelines follow a consistent, evidence-based development process.
Since 1995, the UKKA has provided evidence-based guidance to support the management of kidney disease, aiming to improve care and outcomes for patients. Developed independently and without external funding, our guidelines help healthcare professionals deliver consistent, high-quality practice across the UK.
Committee Co-Chairs
Consultant Nephrologist, Medical Co-Chair
Consultant Pharmacist, Multiprofessional Co-Chair
What the committee does
Individual clinical practice guidelines are developed by dedicated writing groups. The Clinical Practice Guidelines Committee oversees this programme of work and ensures that new and revised guidelines follow the UKKA’s agreed development process.
The committee is responsible for:
- Selecting and prioritising topics for new and revised guidelines
- Establishing guideline writing groups with relevant professional expertise and patient representation
- Overseeing the development, consultation, approval and review of guidelines
- Commissioning UKKA commentaries on relevant guidance produced by other organisations
- Supporting joint guidelines and endorsements with other professional organisations
- Ensuring published guidelines are reviewed and updated when required
How guidelines are developed
Select and prioritise the topic
Topics are considered according to clinical need, changes in evidence and variation in practice.
Invite expressions of interest
The UKKA invites members of the kidney community to contribute to the guideline.
Establish the writing group
A group is formed with relevant professional expertise and patient representation.
Agree the scope
The group defines the guideline’s purpose, audience and key clinical questions.
Review the evidence
Relevant evidence is identified, critically appraised and considered by the group.
Develop recommendations
The group drafts recommendations based on the evidence and their relevance to clinical practice.
Consult and approve
The draft is opened for consultation, revised in response to feedback and submitted for approval.
Publish and review
The guideline is published and reviewed periodically to reflect new evidence and changes in practice.
Independence and collaboration
UKKA clinical practice guidelines are developed without funding from external organisations, commercial companies or charities and are editorially independent from the UKKA.
Where appropriate, the committee works with other professional organisations and specialist contributors to develop joint guidance. This includes collaboration with our professional group, the British Association for Paediatric Nephrology, on guidance relevant to both adult and paediatric kidney care.
The UKKA may also contribute to or endorse guidance led by another organisation or publish a commentary explaining how external recommendations apply in the UK.
The UKKA guideline development process was accredited by NICE from 2010 until the accreditation programme closed in 2024.