NICE calls for more transparency on uptake of guidance

The proposal was made by NICE chief executive Andrew Dillon in response to concerns the body’s guidance is often not followed.

We would like to work with whatever government to do some more to stimulate a more rapid response to guidance

This has resulted in regional variation and complaints of a “postcode lottery” in the availability of drugs.

Mr Dillon, speaking at a NICE-organised event at the Conservative Party conference on Wednesday, said the whole NHS could not be expected to follow guidance immediately, but organisations could instead say when they planned to implement it.

He said: “We would like to work with whatever government to do some more to stimulate a more rapid response to guidance.

“It is hard to say to organisations, ‘We expect you to be doing this next week.’ The simple thing is to say, ‘If you can’t to do it [now] then tell your local community when you can implement this piece of guidance’.

“Whether it is one year or two years, just be honest about this.”

Shadow health minister Mark Simmonds, also speaking at the event, said his party was looking at how to improve uptake of guidance. There was “real concern” among patients about regional variation, he said.

He said the public should have information “so they can see in their area guidance is not being implemented, and in the area next door it is, and ask why”.

Mr Simmonds said organisations should also be transparent about the basis of those decisions.

He said: “Transparency shouldn’t be limited to information comparing one location to another. PCTs should be transparent about the criteria they put in place, which are inconsistent around the country.

“Patients would very quickly be able to see where there is inconsistently.”