National Quality Board engagement exercise on the library of NICE Quality Standard NHS healthcare topics

The purpose of this engagement exercise is to allow those with an interest in Quality Standards to become involved in helping to ensure the library of topics is genuinely fit for purpose.

Engagement exercise dates: 15 August - 14 October 2011

Engagement exercise documents

• Introductory letter from the National Quality Board
• Annex A - proposed library of topics
• Annex B - background information
• Methodology for development of the proposed library
• Comments proforma

Points to consider in the engagement exercise

1. Are there any significant gaps or omissions in the proposed library? If so, what are they?

2. Of the topics in the proposed library, are there any aspects of the care pathway or clinical area that it would be particularly important for the Quality Standard to address?

3. Are there any other cross-cutting topics that address health improvement and / or patient experience issues for which a Quality Standard would be of benefit?

4. Which are the topics where the interface with social care is particularly important and should be considered in developing the quality standard?

5. What are your views on the Quality Standards published to date?

How to submit your comments

Please provide your response to the proposed library of topics using the comments proforma (ensuring all relevant fields are completed, including your organisation's full name) and forward this electronically by 5pm on 14 October 2011 at the very latest to NQBQSengagement@nice.org.uk.

The Institute is unable to accept:

• Comments from individuals - please contact the stakeholder organisation (see definition below) that most closely represents your interests and pass your comments to them (stakeholder organisations do not need to be registered with NICE to comment).
• Comments received after the engagement exercise deadline (5pm)
• Comments that are not on the correct proforma
• More than one response per stakeholder organisation
• Confidential information or other material that you would not wish to be made public
• Personal medical information about yourself or another person from which your or the person's identity could be ascertained.

What will happen to your comments

• All eligible comments will be sent to the National Quality Board at the end of the engagement exercise.

Acknowledgement of comments

You should receive an automated acknowledgement from the email box when you email your comments. If you do not receive this acknowledgement or have any queries on the engagement exercise process, please contact Rachel Hatton, Guidelines Coordinator rachel.hatton@nice.org.uk.

Definition of stakeholder organisations

• national patient and carer organisations
• national organisations that represent healthcare professionals
• companies that manufacture medicines or devices
• providers and commissioners of health services in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• statutory organisations including the Department of Health, the Welsh Assembly Government, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, the Healthcare Commission and the National Patient Safety Agency
• research organisations that have done nationally recognised research