NICE News

Updates to Managing COVID-19 guideline

The following new recommendations have been added to our Managing COVID-19 guideline (NG191):

• colchicine to treat COVID-19 (27 May)
• azithromycin to treat COVID-19 (3 June).

• remdesivir for COVID-19 pneumonia
• use of pulse oximetry to identify people with severe COVID-19 in primary and community care settings. We’ve made a minor change to clarify that the NHS England guide should be followed for adults.

We are continuously updating this guideline to incorporate the latest evidence and keep abreast of new developments in diagnosing and treating COVID-19. We’ll highlight recent updates in this monthly email communication, or you can keep up-to-date on the latest live changes through our website.

Draft guideline to tackle the health burden of smoking

This draft guideline makes recommendations on e-cigarettes and the use of voucher incentives to encourage pregnant women to quit. Tobacco: preventing uptake, promoting quitting and treating dependence consolidates and updates 8 previous guidelines on smoking. We’re consulting on the draft recommendations until Friday 6 August.

Shared decision making underpins good healthcare

In our latest guideline, we recommend that shared decision making should be part of everyday practice across all healthcare settings. The guideline sets out ways for healthcare professionals to work with people using services to make decisions about their treatment and care. We recommend use of posters and patient decision aid leaflets to help raise awareness of this process.

New guidance on the management of acne vulgaris

This new guideline is the first by NICE to address acne vulgaris. It offers recommendations on pharmacological and photodynamic therapies and emphasises the importance of supporting the mental health of individuals who are experiencing significant psychological distress as a result of their condition.

New treatment options for people with moderate rheumatoid arthritis

Our draft guidance recommends several treatment options for around 25,000 people with moderate rheumatoid arthritis that has not responded to conventional therapies. Adalimumab, etanercept and infliximab, taken with methotrexate have been recommended for use within the NHS. Adalimumab and etanercept can also be used as monotherapy when methotrexate is contraindicated or not tolerated.

NICE is transforming: our strategic plan 2021 to 2026

Watch a short animation to understand the focus of our new 5-year strategy and how we aim to meet the evolving needs of the health and care system. We’re going to be creating easier-to-use ‘living’ guidelines based on the latest evidence and addressing your most important questions.

Hear Glue Ear app delivers NICE ear care pathway

Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust developed the Hear Glue Ear app to support children and their families. The free app:

• delivers glue ear information, advice, books, games and songs in a format that children like and recognise
• covers specific recommendations from our guideline on surgical treatment of children under 12 with otitis media with effusion (also called glue ear)
• helps to keep children from falling behind with speech and language, listening skills and learning
• provides parents with up to date and evidence-based information and behavioural strategies.

During the project, 73% of the families involved downloaded the app. They said that it helped them become more engaged with the glue ear care pathway. They also felt more in control of helping their child between appointments. The app has won both the Leading Health Care award and Children’s app of the year 2019 award at the UK App Awards.
 
This project is one of many implementation case studies contained in our shared learning collection.

Share your views about NICE: take a short survey

We would like to invite you to share your views and experience of engaging with NICE through a new research project. Your feedback will be used to help evaluate and improve how we operate, our work and resources, and our strategic ambitions.

Closing date: Friday 16 July 2021.

Comment on a consultation

Our current consultations include:

• Inducing labour (update)
  Submit your comments by Tuesday 6 July 2021.
• Rehabilitation for chronic neurological disorders including traumatic brain injury
  Submit your comments by Tuesday 6 July 2021.
• Synergo for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer
  Submit your comments by Friday 16 July 2021.
• Metastatic spinal cord compression in adults: risk assessment, diagnosis and management
  Submit your comments by Tuesday 20 July 2021.

Join a committee

We have 5 vacancies for lay people to join our committees. Join and have an active role in producing a guideline or quality standard.

Observe a meeting

Due to the pandemic, we're holding all our public meetings virtually. You'll need to register in advance to join. 

Upcoming public meeting:

• Tuesday 13 July 2021 – Quality standards advisory committee
  • Colorectal cancer update
  Registration closes Tuesday 6 July 2021.
  Agenda and register