2005 Conference

NICE 2005: Health and Clinical Excellence
7 – 8 December 2005, International Convention Centre, Birmingham

The 2005 conference programme showcased national and international examples of health improvement, best practices for implementing guidance locally, explored challenges to improving public health and highlighted the research and development agenda. NICE 2005 was attended by more than 1000 delegates from different sectors of the UK healthcare industry and also saw an increased number of delegates from overseas. The conference was supported by more than 70 exhibitors and proved to be a resounding success.

Professor Sir Michael Rawlins, Chairman of NICE, opened the conference with the Rt. Hon. Jane Kennedy, Minister of State for Quality and Patient Safety, Dr Fiona Adshead, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, and Richard Laing from the World Health Organisation.

The programme included a series of sessions on implementing NICE guidance locally. There were local examples of sharing best practice in areas of antenatal care, schizophrenia, COPD, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety and epilepsy. 

Anna Walker, Chief Executive, Healthcare Commission informed the delegates on the Commission’s new ‘annual health check’ and how the system will assess compliance with NICE’s work programmes.  Dr Gillian Leng, Implementation Systems Director at NICE advised delegates there is a need for a mechanism to implement NICE guidance in a systematic way, to ensure standards are met.  To support this approach, the Institute launched a publication on How to put NICE guidance into practice – a guide to implementation for organisations.  

New to this year’s programme was public health, which reflects NICE’s new responsibilities for providing guidance on effective public health interventions.  Professor Mike Kelly, Director of the Centre for Public Health Excellence at NICE and Dr Catherine Law, Chair of the Public Health Interventions Advisory Committee, informed delegates on the production and processes for this new public health guidance.  Professor David Hunter Chair of UKPHA and Professor of Health Policy and Professor Rod Griffiths President of the Faculty of Public Health, conducted a workshop on working together to improve public health, identifying the criteria for successful partnerships.  Other sessions included working with local government, assessing public health standards, diffusing the sexual health time bomb and helping people to stop smoking.

Also new to this years programme was the Science of Implementation.  Part one included what is known about implementation, the strengths and the weaknesses of the current evidence and the way forward. Part 2 focused on the key issue of identifying cost-effective approaches to supporting the implementation of NICE guidance both from the local and national perspectives.  Given the interest, it was recommended that the debate continues in a NICE implementation workshop exploring relevant NICE research needs.  More information will be given in future e-newsletters and on the website.

After a busy day packed with sessions, delegates were invited to get fit with NICE with pilates and circuit fun.  Ending the day in fine style, delegates enjoyed the winter-themed ‘ICE party’ reception and dinner.

The conference closed with the big debate: The nanny state v. the individual, where delegates were given the opportunity to vote on topical issues such as the ban on smoking in public places, the extension of pub licensing laws and the new binge drinking culture.  With speakers including the Rt. Hon. Frank Dobson and Edwina Currie, there were strong arguments for and against the state’s influence on the individual on these issues. Some of the debate outcomes were for better targeted public health campaigns and that smoking should be the individual’s choice.

A new scheme was also introduced for NICE 2005 which gave patient and carer organisations and NGOs the opportunity to attend the conference.  NICE supported 38 organisations to attend and John Needham, patient representative said “I really enjoyed the event and without the bursary scheme I would not have had the opportunity to attend such a worthwhile event.”

Congratulations to this year’s winners of our call for posters who were Epilepsy Action - Epilepsy Resource Pack for Primary Care; The Breastfeeding Network - Ripples in the Pond: Breastfeeding Centres in the Northwest and the Subsequent Outreach into the Community and the Royal Marsden - Audit of Adherence to NICE Guidance on the Use of Ultrasound for the Placement of Central Venous Catheters.

A date for your diary!

Next years conference will take place from 6 -7 December at the ICC in Birmingham.  The conference programme will be available from July, so please visit the site in the summer.