Introduction to NICE

Professor David Haslam CBE

Chair, NICE

Student champion Study Day, September 2016

The background: why NICE was

set up

• Established in 1999

• Aim: to reduce variation in the

availability and quality of

treatments and care (the so

called ‘postcode lottery’)

• To resolve uncertainty about

which medicines and

treatments work best and

which represent best value for

money for the NHS

“Probably not, but it’s

worth a bloody good try.”

Frank Dobson, Health Secretary, who established NICE in

1999, when asked whether he thought it would work.

Expectations

• National, authoritative source of advice

• Guidance based on effectiveness and cost effectiveness

• Inclusive and consultative approach

• Independent and efficient

• A service for the NHS and the public which uses it

• Broad support from professional and patient groups

Core principles of NICE’s work

• Based on the best evidence available

• Expert input

• Patient and carer involvement

• Independent advisory committees

• Genuine consultation

• Regular review

• Open and transparent process

• Social values and equity considerations

A Brief History

1999: Technology appraisals

Clinical guidelines

2002: Interventional procedures

Implementation

2005: Public health guidelines

2008 : NICE International

2009: Cost saving MedTec programme (new technologies)

Diagnostics

NHS Evidence

2011: National Prescribing Centre (now Medicines Prescribing

Centre)

2013: Social care guidelines

Highly specialised technologies

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08 08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13

NICE Guidance by Year

Appraisals

QIPP

Public Health

Interventional Procedures Clinical

Guidelines

QOF

Accreditation

Quality Standards

Medical devices

CCGO Diagnostics

Evidence updates

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

pu

blic

atio

ns

The NICE portfolio in 2016

Perceptions of NICE: 1999

Supportive Government,

health

professionals

Curious Advocacy

groups,

academics,

media

Sceptical/hostile Industry

Blissfully

ignorant

Public

Perceptions of NICE: 2014

Supportive Government,

health

professionals,

academics,

advocacy

groups,

industry (most)

Curious Media (most),

public

Sceptical/hostile Industry (some)

media (some)

Blissfully

ignorant

"TheTriumph of NICE"

“NICE may prove to be one of

Britain’s greatest cultural assets

along with Shakespeare,

Newtonian physics, The Beatles,

Harry Potter and the Teletubbies”

Richard Smith, Editor. British Medical

Journal 2004