54 The guidance resulting from the appraisal process will be very different in nature and purpose from clinical guidelines (as the term is normally understood). Nevertheless, it would be extremely confusing if the guidance on new interventions was inconsistent with any guidelines endorsed by NICE. NICE will need to ensure that the appraisal group take account of any such guidelines relevant to the intervention they are appraising, and conversely that any future guideline development is informed by the results of the appraisals of any relevant interventions. This could be secured through (a) day to day liaison between the respective secretariats, (b) possibly some cross-membership between the appraisal group and the professional advisory group overseeing NICE's guidelines programme, and (c) oversight of the final products of each part of the programme by the NICE board.
   
55 Exactly the same principles will apply to the relation between the appraisal process and the Department's initiative on computerised decision support (PRODIGY).
   
 

We would welcome views on

  • the composition of the appraisal group and the use of subject specialists (paras 46-48)
  • the skills required in the secretariat (paras 49-50)
  • whether the members of the appraisal group should be kept anonymous to protect the integrity of the group.