National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

The term of office of the current Chair of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), Sir Michael Rawlins, ends on 31 March 2013 and the Department of Health has indicated that it will shortly be advertising the post. The Health Committee will be holding a pre-appointment hearing for the Government’s preferred candidate for the post of Chair of NICE towards the end of the year.

In advance of that hearing, the Committee has decided to hold a short inquiry into the work of NICE, examining the way that it has discharged its current functions and looking forward to the changes in its role that will come into effect from 1 April next year, when its name will change to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and its status will change to that of an executive non-departmental public body. The Committee would therefore welcome written submissions on the work of NICE and in particular is interested in:

• NICE’s role in relation to evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of drugs and other clinical interventions (through medical technology appraisals) including how its role will be affected by the intended introduction of value-based pricing for drugs purchased by the NHS
• The role of NICE Quality Standards in the new NHS system architecture, in particular the status of NICE guidelines in determination of commissioning priorities
• The continuing role of NICE clinical guidelines (on treatment for specific conditions) in improving the quality of healthcare, in particular in the context of analysis of effectiveness of established treatment procedures and review of variations of outcome
• The effect of the new public health system architecture on NICE’s continued role in respect of public health guidance
• What effect NICE’s new responsibilities in relation to evaluating social care interventions might have on its work overall and how this will relate to the integration of health and social care services

The deadline for submitting written evidence is midday on Monday 29 October 2012. 

Guidance on submitting written evidence