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  • Question on Consultation

    Has all of the relevant evidence been taken into account?

  • Question on Consultation

    Are the recommendations sound and a suitable basis for guidance to the NHS?

  • Question on Consultation

    Are the summaries of clinical and cost effectiveness reasonable interpretations of the evidence?

  • Question on Consultation

    Are there any aspects of the recommendations that need particular consideration to ensure we avoid unlawful discrimination against any group of people on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity?

HealthTech draft guidance

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We have updated this service so that members of the same organisation can now collaborate on a joint online response.

Read our blog to learn more.

Guidance development process

NICE HealthTech guidance evaluates digital technologies, diagnostics and medical devices (including artificial intelligence). It provides evidence-based recommendations about how safe and effective these technologies are, and their cost effectiveness. The guidance supports healthcare professionals and commissioners to ensure that patients get the best possible treatments. NICE aims to promote innovations that meet the needs of patients and the healthcare system.

This guidance has been developed as early-use HealthTech guidance, for HealthTech products that could address an unmet need in the NHS and need more evidence to support routine use.

Find out more on the NICE webpage on HealthTech guidance.

NICE is producing this guidance on AI-assisted echocardiography analysis and reporting to support the diagnosis and monitoring of heart failure in the NHS in England. The diagnostics advisory committee has considered the evidence and the views of clinical and patient experts.

This document has been prepared for consultation with the stakeholders. It summarises the evidence and views that have been considered, and sets out the recommendations made by the committee. NICE invites comments from the stakeholders for this evaluation and the public. This document should be read along with the evidence.

The committee is interested in receiving comments on the following:

  • Has all of the relevant evidence been taken into account?

  • Are the summaries of clinical and cost effectiveness reasonable interpretations of the evidence?

  • Are the recommendations sound and a suitable basis for guidance to the NHS?

  • Are there any aspects of the recommendations that need particular consideration to ensure we avoid unlawful discrimination against any group of people on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation?

After consultation:

  • Based on the consultation comments received, the committee may meet again.

  • If committee meets again it will consider the evidence, this evaluation consultation document and comments from stakeholders.

  • The committee will then prepare the final draft guidance, which will go through a resolution process before the final guidance is agreed.

Note that this document is not NICE's final guidance on AI-assisted echocardiography analysis and reporting to support the diagnosis and monitoring of heart failure. The recommendations in section 1 may change after consultation.

More details are available in NICE's HealthTech programme manual.

Key dates:

Closing date for comments: 24 February 2026

Second committee meeting: 11 March 2026