National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an executive non-departmental public body of the Department of Health and Social Care. It publishes official guidelines in four areas:

• The use of health technologies within the National Health Service (NHS), such as the use of new and existing medicines, treatments, and procedures.
• Clinical practice (guidance on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions).
• Guidance for public sector workers on health promotion and ill-health avoidance.
• Guidance for social care services and users.

These appraisals are based primarily on evidence-based evaluations of efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness in various circumstances.

NICE carries out assessments of the most appropriate treatment regimens for different diseases. This must take into account both desired medical outcomes (i.e., the best possible result for the patient) and also economic arguments regarding differing treatments.

Under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, NICE was given responsibility for developing guidance and quality standards for social care, using an evidence-based model.

NICE's Clinical Knowledge Summaries (CKS) provide rounds-ups of the current evidence-base for specific conditions and practical advice on best-practice for professionals. 

Resources:

• NICE - Autism (Link)
• NICE - People With Learning Disabilities (Link)
• NICE - People With Physical Disabilities (Link)
• NICE - Quick Guides to Social Care (Link)