L09: NICE and National Level Decision Making

Question 1

What are the functions of NICE?

Answer 1

• Technology appraisal
• Clinical guidelines
• Public Health Programmes and interventions

Question 2

What is the structure of the NICE appraisal committees?

Answer 2

Now there are 4 separate committees, each with its own chair
There are made of a variety of different members but the largest proportion is those of medical expertise (35%)

Question 3

What is the result of NICE approval of a technology?

Answer 3

MUST BE FUNDED WITHIN 3 MONTHS OF POSITIVE GUIDANCE BEING ISSUED

Question 4

How do NICE develop their clinical guidelines?

Answer 4

• There is a specialist guideline development group
  o Mainly made up of clinicians with a particular interest in the relevant patient group
  o Includes a health economist but modelling is less of a focus

Question 5

What is the centre for public health excellence (CPHE)?

Answer 5

Part of NICE that deals with public health issues. It reviews evidence and reports to various bodies.

Question 6

What are two other main national level bodies and what are their roles?

Answer 6

The national screening committee makes decisions on whether to implement screening programmes.
The cancer drugs fund provides a means for bypassing the NICE technology appraisal criteria in order to get cancer drugs available to patients.