Safety, Quality and Standards
NICE (The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence)
NICE is a Special Health Authority tasked with providing guidance on current best practice in health treatment and care, including public health, to the NHS in England and Wales. The Department has a formal link with the Institute under which all NICE guidance, published from 1 July 2006, is reviewed locally for its applicability to Northern Ireland and, where found to be applicable, is endorsed by the Department for implementation in the HSC.
The Department has recently reviewed its process for the endorsement, implementation, monitoring and assurance in Northern Ireland. The Department will review the legal, policy and financial consequences related to its implementation in Northern Ireland. The information from the review will be considered and the guidance endorsed where applicable. The Department will then issue the endorsed guidance to the HSC Board, who are then responsible for putting plans in place for the implementation of the guidance.
These new arrangements came into effect from 28th September 2011. Full details can be found in the following circular:
- NICE Technology Appraisals and Clinical Guidelines - New Process for Endorsement, Implementation, Monitoring and Assurance in Northern Ireland
Details of endorsed guidance can be found using the following links:
The Department are also participants in the NICE Interventional Procedures Programme. Further information on this can be found here
