NICE 2002/ 001
Issued: 17 January 2002

Press Release

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) welcomes the Government's response to the Report of the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry.

In response to the Secretary of State's announcement Andrew Dillon, NICE Chief Executive, stated: "NICE welcomes the Government's response to the Bristol Royal Infirmary Report. In making recommendations for change and improvement in the NHS, the Kennedy Report endorsed the role and contribution of NICE. We are therefore pleased that the Government has responded positively to many of the proposals the Report makes for the Institute's future. In particular, we are looking forward to expanding the nature and extent of the guidance we produce. We have already achieved much but there is a lot more to be done to provide the NHS with a comprehensive catalogue of clinical guidance."

Mr Dillon added: "Taking responsibility for SERNIP (Safety and Efficacy Register for New Interventional Procedures) and potentially the work of the national screening committee are significant additional challenges and fit well with the Institute's existing programmes. New responsibilities combined with enhanced independence confirms NICE's position as the primary source of clinical practice guidance for the NHS in England and Wales."

Ends

Notes for editors:

1. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE or 'the Institute') is part of the NHS and its role is to provide authoritative and reliable guidance on healthcare for patients and their carers, healthcare professionals and the wider public in England and Wales.
   
2. The Institute produces three key guidance products for the NHS: technology appraisals, which assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of specific medicines, medical devices, diagnostic techniques, surgical procedures and health promotions; clinical guidelines; and clinical audit advice.
   
3. NICE published its response to the Report of the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry in August 2001, following consideration of the Report by the Institute's Board. The Institute's response is published on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk.
   
4. NICE recognises that a number of the changes relating to the Institute's work will require secondary legislation, and we look forward to receiving the timetable for this.