Quality standard

This quality standard covers investigating and managing symptoms of dyspepsia (indigestion) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (heartburn or reflux) in adults (aged 18 and over). It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

It does not cover diagnosing or managing cancer of the oesophagus or stomach. Recognising and investigating symptoms of suspected cancer in primary care is covered by NICE’s quality standard on suspected cancer.

How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them

Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them. We check our quality standards every August to make sure they are up to date.