Prioritisation board decisions 2026
We've developed a centralised approach to prioritising our guidance topics.
This ensures that we produce guidance that's relevant, timely, accessible, and has demonstrable impact.
Decisions will only be reviewed where there are factual errors or when significant new evidence comes to light following publication.
Stakeholders can seek clarification within 20 working days following the publication of the prioritisation board's decisions.
| Prioritisation board meeting date | Topic title | Decision | Routing decision | Rationale | Decision publication date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 June 2026 | Implantable cardiac monitors to detect atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke (HTG553) | Prioritised | HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board noted the value of the technology in potentially reducing the incidence of strokes. They recognised that evidence has been published on this topic which is likely to impact on the existing recommendations in NICE’s guidance on this topic (HTG553). Consequently, they agreed that the topic should be prioritised. | 13 July 2026 |
| 22 June 2026 | Lipoprotein A (Lp(A)) testing and management | Prioritised | Centre for Guidelines/ Medicines Evaluation | The Prioritisation Board noted that this is an area where historically treatments have not been available and as such, testing would not have been appropriate. They recognised that treatments are now being evaluated, and so agreed that it would be of value to assess testing for increased levels of lipoprotein A. | 13 July 2026 |
| 22 June 2026 | Digital stethoscopes to support detection of heart failure signs | Prioritised | HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board previously considered the topic in 2025 where it was agreed that there would likely be value in assessing the technology, but that it would be appropriate to wait for the publication of a relevant trial. The Prioritisation Board recognised that the trial has now published and agreed that with this evidence available, it would be appropriate to assess the technology. | 13 July 2026 |
| 10 June 2026 | Low back pain and sciatica in the over-16s (NG59) | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board agreed that there does not appear to be a clear signal from the evidence base that the recommendations regarding combined physical and psychological programmes need to be changed. They recognised that low back pain is a significant condition which affects a large number of people, but they did not feel that a review of the topic would be likely to lead to significant changes in practice. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should not be prioritised. | 13 July 2026 |
| 10 June 2026 | Point of care tests for high-sensitivity troponin to rule out NSTEMI | Prioritised | HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board agreed that the topic should be prioritised. It was recognised that there would be value in assessing point of care testing for troponin as if the tests are found to be effective, there is the potential for reducing the numbers of people attending emergency departments and moving decision making from the hospital to the community setting. | 13 July 2026 |
| 27 May 2026 | Hospital acquired deconditioning | Prioritised | Centre for Guidelines | The Prioritisation Board recognised that hospital acquired deconditioning (HAD) is an important topic which can affect a large population. They noted that recommendations on this topic have the potential to lead to improved outcomes in patients and avoid some of the harms associated with HAD. | 13 July 2026 |
| 27 May 2026 | Elevated blood pressure (NG136) | Prioritised | Centre for Guidelines | The Prioritisation Board agreed that this is an important topic which affects a large number of people. This is an area where NICE recommendations could add significant value. | 13 July 2026 |
| 27 May 2026 | Functional neurological disorder | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board noted that NICE has produced guidance from 2025 on rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders (NG252) which includes recommendations regarding functional neurological disorder. It was further noted that a clinical knowledge summary has been produced on this topic which includes recommendations regarding diagnosis and management. Consequently, they agreed that additional guidance in this area is not a priority for NICE at this time. | 13 July 2026 |
| 27 May 2026 | Haemochromatosis | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board recognised that the EASL and British Society for Haematology have produced guidance on this topic. They also noted that the evidence base for treatments for this condition is limited. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should not be prioritised. | 13 July 2026 |
| 27 May 2026 | Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board noted that there is currently very little good quality evidence available regarding the diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should not be prioritised at this time, but that it could be reconsidered in the future if good quality evidence becomes available. | 13 July 2026 |
| 27 May 2026 | Fluoroquinolone associated disability | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board recognised that fluoroquinolone associated disability is a significant issue, but agreed that there does not currently appear to be any robust evidence available regarding possible treatment options. They further noted that the MHRA has issued drug safety updates for fluoroquinolones which significantly restrict their use. Every NICE recommendation for fluoroquinolones links to the 2024 safety alert issued by the MHRA, noting the potential risks and side effects associated with their use. The Prioritisation Board agreed that the topic should not be prioritised at this time but noted that it could be reconsidered in the future if evidence of effective treatment(s) becomes available. | 13 July 2026 |
| 13 May 2026 | ID3903 - Leriglitazone for cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy | Routed as a highly specialised technology | Highly specialised technology | The Prioritisation Board agreed that all four of the criteria of the highly specialised technology framework were met (see NICE-wide topic prioritisation: the manual), and that therefore the treatment should be routed to the highly specialised technology programme. | 13 July 2026 |
| 13 May 2026 | ID6540 - Rebisufligene etisparvovec for mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA | Routed as a highly specialised technology | Highly specialised technology | The Prioritisation Board agreed that all four of the criteria of the highly specialised technology framework were met (see NICE-wide topic prioritisation: the manual), and that therefore the treatment should be routed to the highly specialised technology programme. | 13 July 2026 |
| 29 April 2026 | Intravascular lithotripsy devices to treat calcified coronary arteries during percutaneous coronary intervention | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board noted that currently there is only one technology approved for use in the NHS, but that there are a number of other technologies being developed. They agreed that guidance at this time would only be of limited value but that it would be appropriate to reconsider the topic in 12-18 months when more evidence on the other technologies is expected to be available. | 13 July 2026 |
| 29 April 2026 | Pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation | Prioritised | HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board agreed that the technology looks to have potential clinical benefits for some patients. They noted that the procedure time is shorter than for thermal ablation, potentially allowing for overall waiting lists to be reduced. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should be prioritised. | 13 July 2026 |
| 29 April 2026 | Nerve stimulation devices for treating obstructive sleep apnoea | Prioritised | HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board agreed that this technology has the potential to provide benefits for people with obstructive sleep apnoea. They noted that there is now more evidence available since the topic was considered in interventional procedures guidance (HTG455) and that there would be value in conducting a clinical and cost-effectiveness assessment for the technology. | 13 July 2026 |
| 29 April 2026 | Length of prescriptions for autistic people | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board agreed that decisions regarding prescription schedules are not the responsibility of NICE. They noted that the Royal College of General Practitioners and Royal College of Pharmacy has published a repeat prescribing toolkit which sets out what should be included within a good practice repeat prescribing system. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should not be prioritised. | 13 July 2026 |
| 29 April 2026 | Hypothalamic amenorrhea | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board noted that there is an existing clinical knowledge summary which provides guidance regarding the recognition of hypothalamic amenorrhea, as well as referral pathways and initial management. They also noted that the Endocrine Society has produced guidance on this topic. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should not be prioritised. | 13 July 2026 |
| 29 April 2026 | Low back pain – exercise advice | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board noted that the current guideline includes a positive recommendation for exercise which acknowledges the need to take people’s specific needs, preferences and capabilities into account. They further noted that there did not appear to be relevant evidence regarding weightlifting in people with low back pain in order to be able to develop recommendations on this topic. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should not be prioritised. | 13 July 2026 |
| 16 April 2026 | Ovarian cancer diagnosis in secondary care (HTG453/CG122) | Prioritised | HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board agreed that the topic should be prioritised. They noted that recently published evidence indicates a diagnostic model could potentially improve diagnostic accuracy, enabling earlier detection and reducing unnecessary surgeries | 13 July 2026 |
| 01 April 2026 | Penicillin allergy delabelling | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board noted that the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (BASCI) has developed guidance on this topic and that further European guidance is being developed. They also acknowledged that there is a relevant ongoing trial which is due to complete at the end of 2026. Given these points, the Prioritisation Board agreed that the topic should not be prioritised at this time, but that it may be appropriate to reconsider it in due course when further evidence is available. | 14 April 2026 |
| 01 April 2026 | Barrett’s oesophagus (NG231) | Prioritised | Guidelines | The Prioritisation Board recognised that recently published evidence indicates that the current recommendations regrading endoscopic surveillance are likely to need updating, with the potential for less use of an invasive procedure and associated cost-savings. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should be prioritised. | 14 April 2026 |
| 19 March 2026 | Pathological demand avoidance | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board noted that as pathological demand avoidance is not currently recognised as a diagnostic entity, it would not be possible to develop useful and useable recommendations on this topic. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should not be prioritised. | 14 April 2026 |
| 19 March 2026 | Glucose-6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board noted that the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) has produced guidance on this topic. They also noted that the BNF includes information about drugs which are either contraindicated or should be used with caution in people with this condition. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should not be prioritised. | 14 April 2026 |
| 19 March 2026 | Percutaneous transluminal renal sympathetic denervation for resistant hypertension | Prioritised | HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board agreed that the technology looks to have the potential to offer clinical benefits and noted that there appears to be some relevant published evidence available. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should be prioritised. | 14 April 2026 |
| 19 March 2026 | Point of care lipid tests for CVD prevention in primary and community care | Prioritised | HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board recognised that this is an area where guidance on the topic would be valuable in assessing the effectiveness of the technology. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should be prioritised. | 14 April 2026 |
| 19 March 2026 | Peripheral arterial disease (CG147) | Prioritised | Guidelines | The Prioritisation Board recognised that newly published evidence indicates that the existing recommendations in the guideline regarding the management of critical limb ischaemia may now be out of date. They noted that newer treatment options appear to have the potential to be more clinically and cost-effective and so agreed that it would be valuable to address the topic. | 14 April 2026 |
| 4 February 2026 | AI-guided ultrasound to support diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis | Not prioritised | The Prioritisation Board noted that the evidence base for the technology in its current form indicated that its accuracy was not sufficient and that there was no evidence to evaluate the technology for the most appropriate use case. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should not be prioritised. | 6 March 2026 | |
| 4 February 2026 | AI technologies to aid the scoring and interpretation of diagnostic sleep studies | Prioritised | Routed to HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board agreed that the technology has the potential to improve the efficiency of sleep services and that there would be value in assessing the effectiveness of the technology. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should be prioritised. | 6 March 2026 |
| 4 February 2026 | Urinary biomarkers to detect bladder cancer | Prioritised | Routed to HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board agreed that the technology appears to have the potential to create system efficiencies by replacing the need for cystoscopies in certain instances. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should be prioritised. | 6 March 2026 |
| 22 January 2026 | Scrambler therapy for complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) | Not prioritised | The Prioritisation Board noted that scrambler therapy technology does not currently look to be regulated for use in the UK. They further noted that the evidence base for the technology is very limited. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should not be prioritised at this time. They acknowledged that if the technology becomes regulated and further evidence is available, the topic could be reconsidered in the future. | 6 March 2026 | |
| 22 January 2026 | Female genital mutilation | Not prioritised | The Prioritisation Board recognised that female genital mutilation (FGM) spans health services, social care and safeguarding responsibilities. Existing guidance on this topic has been produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, alongside commissioning and safeguarding guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care. The Board agreed that the most pertinent issues relate to training, safeguarding practice and service delivery across the system, and concluded that NICE guidance would not be the most appropriate mechanism at this time. | 6 March 2026 | |
| 22 January 2026 | Diagnostic technologies for surveillance of people at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma | Prioritised | Routed to HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board agreed that the technologies in this area have the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy of testing compared with current options and that there would be value in assessing them. | 6 March 2026 |
| 22 January 2026 | Technologies for cancer case finding using primary care records | Prioritised | Routed to HealthTech | The Prioritisation Board agreed that there is a potential value in the technology as a decision support tool for identifying suspected cancer and consequently prioritised the topic. | 6 March 2026 |
| 22 January 2026 | Drainable night bags | Not prioritised | The Prioritisation Board agreed not to prioritise the topic as an existing use assessment they did not believe there was significant variation in practice and the potential for both clinical benefits and cost-reduction through addressing this topic is low. |