The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 277 No 7422 p437
14 October 2006

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News summary

Commissioning guidance for England launched by NICE

The first in a series of guides on how to commission routine evidence-based services was launched this week by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. It focuses on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy services but other planned guides will address anticoagulation therapy services, services for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes foot care services.

The web-based guides will offer advice on local needs assessment and opportunities for clinical service redesign. They will also set benchmarks to help commissioners determine the level of service needed. Each primary care trust and GP practice in England will be able to register to access their own data and an interactive tool will help decision makers calculate the associated costs and savings involved in any service changes.