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  1. Gillian Leng, implementation director,
  2. Michael Rawlins, chairman,
  3. Mercia Page, director, centre for clinical practice
  1. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, London WC1V 6NA
  1. Correspondence to: G Lenggillian.leng@nice.org.uk

    The clinical guidelines programme of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is arguably the largest in the world and is unique in considering both cost effectiveness as well as clinical effectiveness. This article by Hill and Treasure is the first in a series to be published in the BMJ: each article will give a short account of key features of newly published NICE guidelines. The articles will particularly focus on areas where changes in current practice are recommended.

    NICE guidelines are produced by an independent guideline development group. Its members include relevant clinicians, experts in areas such as systematic reviews and health economics, as well as at least two patients or carers. The development process is based on an internationally agreed methodology (box),1 2 and NICE has now published almost 50 clinical guidelines. In …

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