2002/027 NICE welcomes new topics for work programme

NICE 2002/027
Issued: 20 May 2002

Press Release

NICE welcomes new topics for work programme

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence today welcomed the announcement of additional topics for its forward work programme.

Topics for the NICE work programme are chosen by the Department of Health and Welsh Assembly Government in line with the national priorities that they have established through NSFs and the NHS Plan. Once a topic has been referred to NICE, the independent committees and groups that advise NICE are entirely responsible for developing the guidance that NICE issues to the NHS.

The Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales have formally referred:

• Twelve clinical guidelines, which include guidelines for the management of Parkinson's Disease, tuberculosis and osteoporosis;
• Nine technologies for appraisal, which include pegylated interferon alpha in chronic hepatitis C, drug eluting stents for the prevention of restenosis, and cannabis derivatives for treatment of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

Technology appraisals are independent reviews of the clinical and cost effectiveness of specific technologies, such as medicines, medical devices, diagnostic techniques, surgical procedures and health promotion activities.

Clinical guidelines are produced to help healthcare professionals and patients make the right decisions about healthcare in specific clinical circumstances. They sit alongside, but do not replace, the knowledge and skills of experienced health professionals.

Andrew Dillon, NICE Chief Executive said, "NICE welcomes the referral of today's topics, which address areas of significant concern for healthcare professionals, patients and carers. We are keen to begin developing guidance that will help to inform their decisions about treatment and healthcare in these areas as soon as possible. In line with our current practice I can confirm that we will publish details of the timetables for these topics on our web site before the end of June 2002."

Notes for Editors

1. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is part of the NHS and is a special health authority. Our role at NICE is to provide guidance for healthcare professionals and patients and their carers, that will help to inform their decisions about treatment and healthcare. For more information about NICE and its work, log on to the Institute's web site at www.nice.org.uk.

2. NICE guidance recommendations are prepared by independent teams of 'experts', who include healthcare professionals working in the NHS and lay people who are familiar with the issues affecting patients and carers.

3. The full list of topics referred by the Department of Health on 20 May 2002 is shown below:

Technology Appraisal topics:

• Rituximab (Mabthera) for aggressive non Hodgkin's lymphoma.
• Imatinib (Glivec) for first line treatment of chronic myeloid leukaemia.
• Myocardial perfusion scintigraphy in the diagnosis and management of cardiac disease.
• Drug eluting stents for prevention of restenosis.
• Clopidogrel and dipyridamole for prevention of atherosclerotic events.
• Newer hypnotic drugs.
• Cannabis derivatives for treatment of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
• Prehospital intravenous fluid replacement therapy in trauma.
• Pegylated interferons for hepatitis C.

Clinical Guideline topics:

• Service guidance for improving outcomes in sarcoma.
• Service guidance for tumours of the brain and central nervous system.
• Service guidance for skin tumours including melanoma.
• Referral guidelines for suspected cancer.
• Clinical guideline for the management of depression in children and young people.
• Clinical guidance on woundcare management, including the prevention of skin breakdown.
• Clinical guideline on use of nutritional supplements, enteral and parenteral feeding methods.
• Clinical guideline on prevention, treatment and assessment of osteoporosis.
• Clinical guideline for the management of Parkinson's Disease.
• Clinical guideline for tuberculosis.
• Clinical guideline on long acting reversible contraception.
• Guidance on dental recall intervals

4. Full details are available in the Department of Health press release ref. R782-12, on the DoH website www.doh.gov.uk, and from the DoH press office on 020 7210 5649.