The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7177 p805-809
8 December 2001

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Health authorities not monitoring compliance with NICE guidance

Less than half the health authorities in England and Wales have a policy for monitoring local compliance with guidance issued by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, according to a survey conducted by the charity CancerBACUP

Presenting the results of the survey at NICE’s annual conference in London on 5 December, Catriona Moore, public affairs manager, Cancer BACUP, said: "It’s not enough to have the right policy in place if it’s not being implemented effectively."

The results of the survey reveal that most health authorities are unable to say whether or not national guidance is being implemented. Most (80 per cent) have a written policy for assessing the clinical and financial implications of implementing NICE guidance. Fewer (65 per cent) have a written policy for disseminating guidance locally. Fewer still (47.5 per cent) have a policy for monitoring compliance.

Health authorities were also asked whether cancer treatments recommended by NICE were available to all eligible patients. Only 15 per cent said that specific funds were available to implement NICE guidance on lung cancer.

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