14 The University of Birmingham, in association with the National Prescribing Centre in the case of medicines, has been commissioned to carry out horizon scanning on behalf of the NHS Executive, using a variety of sources including published material, contacts with similar groups in other countries, and informal contacts with clinicians and researchers, patient groups, sponsoring companies and their industry associations. Preliminary analysis drawing on the views of the Standing Advisory Committees and other experts will reduce this to a standing "short-list" on which vignettes describing area of application, possible benefits, and likely impact on NHS resources will be compiled and updated. In the case of medicines under development, bulletins based on these vignettes will be published by the National Prescribing Centre/Drug Information Pharmacists Group about 6-12 months before the medicine is expected to be licensed.
   
  Are there any additional sources of information which could be tapped ?