National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 18:53, 23 March 2025

Logo of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department of Health and Social Care in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1999 to reduce variation in the availability and quality of NHS treatments and care. NICE provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care.

History[edit]

NICE was established in 1999 as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. It was created to address the so-called "postcode lottery" in the availability of medical treatments across the UK. In 2005, it merged with the Health Development Agency to become the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. In 2013, it was renamed the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, reflecting its expanded role in social care.

Functions[edit]

NICE's primary role is to improve outcomes for people using the NHS and other public health and social care services. It does this by:

Producing evidence-based guidance and advice for health, public health, and social care practitioners.
Developing quality standards and performance metrics for those providing and commissioning health, public health, and social care services.
Providing a range of information services for commissioners, practitioners, and managers across the spectrum of health and social care.

Guidance[edit]

NICE guidance is developed by independent committees, including professionals and lay members, and is based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence. The guidance covers:

Technology appraisals: Recommendations on the use of new and existing medicines and treatments within the NHS.
Clinical guidelines: Recommendations on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions.
Public health: Guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention of ill health.
Social care: Guidance to improve the quality of social care services.

Impact[edit]

NICE guidance is used by the NHS, local authorities, employers, voluntary groups, and anyone else involved in delivering care or promoting wellbeing. It aims to ensure that people have access to the most effective treatments and care, based on the best available evidence.

Criticism and Controversy[edit]

NICE has faced criticism over the years, particularly regarding its decisions on the cost-effectiveness of certain treatments. Some argue that its decisions can lead to delays in the availability of new treatments. However, NICE maintains that its rigorous evaluation process ensures that resources are used effectively to benefit the greatest number of people.

Related pages[edit]

File:Evidence-informed-health-policy-4---Case-descriptions-of-organizations-that-support-the-use-of-1748-5908-3-56-S8.ogv

External links[edit]

Official NICE website

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-{{svg-image}}
+{{Use British English|date=October 2023}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-The '''National Institute for Health and Care Excellence''' ('''NICE''') is a [[United Kingdom|UK]]-based executive non-departmental public body, responsible for providing national guidance and advice to improve [[health]] and [[social care]] services. Established in 1999, NICE aims to improve outcomes for people using the [[National Health Service]] (NHS) and other public health and social care services by promoting high standards of care and the best possible treatments based on the latest evidence.
+[[File:National_Institute_for_Health_and_Care_Excellence.svg|thumb|right|Logo of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence]]
+The '''National Institute for Health and Care Excellence''' ('''NICE''') is an executive non-departmental public body of the [[Department of Health and Social Care]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. It was established in 1999 to reduce variation in the availability and quality of [[NHS]] treatments and care. NICE provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care.
 ==History==
-NICE was established as part of the NHS reforms under the Health Act 1999. Its primary role was to reduce variation in the availability and quality of treatments and care through the NHS in England and Wales. Over the years, NICE has expanded its scope to include public health, social care, and the development of clinical practice guidelines.
+NICE was established in 1999 as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. It was created to address the so-called "postcode lottery" in the availability of medical treatments across the UK. In 2005, it merged with the Health Development Agency to become the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. In 2013, it was renamed the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, reflecting its expanded role in social care.
+==Functions==
+NICE's primary role is to improve outcomes for people using the NHS and other public health and social care services. It does this by:
+* Producing evidence-based guidance and advice for health, public health, and social care practitioners.
+* Developing quality standards and performance metrics for those providing and commissioning health, public health, and social care services.
+* Providing a range of information services for commissioners, practitioners, and managers across the spectrum of health and social care.
-==Function and Impact==
+==Guidance==
-NICE provides national guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention and treatment of ill health. It develops guidance and recommendations on the effectiveness of treatments and procedures, including [[medicines]], [[medical devices]], diagnostic techniques, surgical procedures, and health promotion activities.
+NICE guidance is developed by independent committees, including professionals and lay members, and is based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence. The guidance covers:
-===Guidelines===
+* [[Technology appraisals]]: Recommendations on the use of new and existing medicines and treatments within the NHS.
-NICE guidelines are developed using evidence-based methodologies and are intended to improve the quality of healthcare, reduce inequalities, and ensure the best use of resources. These guidelines cover various health and care topics, including specific conditions, treatments, and service delivery.
+* [[Clinical guidelines]]: Recommendations on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions.
+* [[Public health]]: Guidance on the promotion of good health and the prevention of ill health.
+* [[Social care]]: Guidance to improve the quality of social care services.
-===Technology Appraisals===
+==Impact==
-One of the key functions of NICE is to conduct technology appraisals, which assess the clinical and cost-effectiveness of health technologies, such as new pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical products. The appraisals are used to determine whether these should be funded by the NHS.
+NICE guidance is used by the NHS, local authorities, employers, voluntary groups, and anyone else involved in delivering care or promoting wellbeing. It aims to ensure that people have access to the most effective treatments and care, based on the best available evidence.
-===Quality Standards===
+==Criticism and Controversy==
-NICE also develops quality standards, which are concise sets of prioritized statements designed to drive measurable quality improvements within a particular area of health or care.
+NICE has faced criticism over the years, particularly regarding its decisions on the cost-effectiveness of certain treatments. Some argue that its decisions can lead to delays in the availability of new treatments. However, NICE maintains that its rigorous evaluation process ensures that resources are used effectively to benefit the greatest number of people.
-==Controversies and Challenges==
+==Related pages==
-NICE has faced criticism and controversy, particularly regarding its decisions on the funding of new and expensive medications. Critics argue that some of its decisions have denied patients access to important treatments. However, NICE maintains that its processes are transparent and based on the best available evidence to ensure that NHS resources are used most effectively.
+* [[Department of Health and Social Care]]
+* [[National Health Service]]
+* [[Public health]]
+* [[Social care in the United Kingdom]]
-==International Influence==
+[[File:Evidence-informed-health-policy-4---Case-descriptions-of-organizations-that-support-the-use-of-1748-5908-3-56-S8.ogv|thumb|left|NICE's role in evidence-informed health policy]]
-NICE's work has gained international recognition, and its methodologies and guidelines are used as a reference point by health and social care organizations worldwide. The institute also collaborates with international partners to share knowledge and expertise.
-==Conclusion==
+==External links==
-The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence plays a crucial role in shaping the quality and delivery of health and social care services in the UK. Through its evidence-based guidelines and appraisals, NICE aims to ensure that all individuals have access to high-quality care and the most effective treatments.
+* [https://www.nice.org.uk/ Official NICE website]
-[[Category:Healthcare in the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:Department of Health and Social Care]]
-[[Category:Medical and health organisations based in the United Kingdom]]
+[[Category:National Health Service (England)]]
-{{medicine-stub}}
+[[Category:Medical and health organisations based in England]]
-<gallery>
+[[Category:1999 establishments in England]]
-File:Evidence-informed-health-policy-4---Case-descriptions-of-organizations-that-support-the-use-of-1748-5908-3-56-S8.ogv
-</gallery>
-<gallery>
-File:National_Institute_for_Health_and_Care_Excellence.svg|National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
-File:Evidence-informed-health-policy-4---Case-descriptions-of-organizations-that-support-the-use-of-1748-5908-3-56-S8.ogv|National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
-</gallery>