The National Institute for Health and Social Care (NICE)

The National Institute for Health and Social Care (NICE) is an independent organisation providing national guidance about how to promote good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health (NICE, 2007).

NICE produces three main types of guidance and these are Technology Appraisals, Clinical Guidelines and Interventional Procedures.

Technology Appraisals

These are recommendations on new and existing medicines and treatments, that must be implemented by NHS trusts (NICE, 2007).

Clinical Guidelines

These are recommendations on the treatment of certain conditions and specific diseases (NICE, 2007). NHS trusts do not have to implement these guidelines, but should take them into consideration.

Interventional Procedures

This guidance evaluates the safety and efficacy of procedures which are used for diagnosis and treatment (NICE, 2007).

How Can You Get Involved with NICE?

There are different ways in which patients and members of the public can get involved with NICE. There are opportunities for you to join the NICE Board (helping to decide the strategic vision of NICE), the Partners’ Council and also the Citizens’ Council (which helps to advise the Board about ethical issues and also society’s views about healthcare).

All of the committee’s and working groups used by NICE include at the very least two members of the public or patients (NICE, 2007). You also have an opportunity to suggest future topics for NICE to produce.

All of the clinical guidance is also available in plain English versions (found in the understanding NICE guidance section on the website).

There is a dedicated Patient and Public Involvement Programme (PPIP) at NICE (NICE, 2007) which has the responsibility of developing and supporting all opportunities to involve patients and members of the public with NICE.

For more information about how you can get involved please click the following link: www.nice.org.uk or email PIPI@nice.org.uk or call 020 7067 5800 and ask for the PPIP Administrator. 

There is a PPIP annual newsletter which can be requested by emailing the PPIP department. You can also sign up for NICE monthly newsletters which will keep you up to date with issues surrounding NICE. Please go to the NICE website to do this.