The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7228 p861
14 December 2002

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National Institute for Clinical Excellence summary

Implementing NICE guidance locally

Implementation of National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance has to be flexible, according to Dr Neal Maskrey, medical director of the National Prescribing Centre.

He told delegates attending a seminar at the NICE conference: "Yes you have a policy and you implement it appropriately and in agreement with the patient, but some flexibility has to be built into the system." For example, Dr Maskrey said, not everyone could have aspirin after a myocardial infarction as some may have suffered gastrointestinal bleeding and in these cases aspirin would not be appropriate.

The seminar was aimed at addressing the resource implications of NICE guidance, both financial and in terms of manpower. Dr Maskrey said health care teams and organisations could benefit from a complexity theory approach, with good enough planning and muddling through, rather than a plan, control and regulate approach.