Professor Fergal Malone:

There are very clear mechanisms in place for new guidelines and changes in legislation to be rolled out, particularly in obstetrics and gynaecology. The Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists works with a national clinical programme office in updating guidelines. The Medical Council will regularly review its own ethical guidelines in light of legislative changes and there are regular meetings at which obstetricians review and update new guidelines. These can generally be disseminated quite quickly across all 19 maternity units. There are systems in place, then, that will allow for a fairly rapid roll-out of a change in guidelines or practice.