NICE Bites is a monthly bulletin from the North west Medicines Information Centre which summarises key prescribing points from NICE guidance.
| The aim of this publication is to provide healthcare professionals with a clear and succinct summary of key prescribing points taken |
| from NICE guidance. It has emerged from collaboration with colleagues in primary care in response to a need for easily accessible |
| information. We hope it will be a useful tool in the implementation of NICE recommendations. Each edition will highlight sections |
| of NICE guidance which relate to prescribing and will cover recent guidance as well as a catch-up programme of previous |
| guidance. It will cover the following: |
| |
Clinical Guidelines
|
These are guidelines on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions and are based on
|
| the best available evidence. |
| |
Technology appraisals
|
| These are recommendations on the use of new and existing medicines and treatments within the NHS. It is important to bear |
| in mind that technology appraisals carry a statutory obligation for CCGs to provide funding within 3 months of publication. |
| |
| NICE recommendations are based on systematic reviews of the best available evidence. When minimal evidence is available |
| recommendations are based on the guideline development group’s opinion of what constitutes good practice. For a complete |
| review of each topic please refer to the full NICE guidance which can be accessed at www.nice.org.uk. Healthcare professionals in |
| England are expected to take NICE guidance fully into account when exercising their clinical judgement however, it does not |
| replace their knowledge and skills. |
| |
