The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care.
NICE was originally set up in 1999 as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, a special health authority, to reduce variation in the availability and quality of NHS treatments and care.
In April 2013 we were established in primary legislation, becoming a Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) and placing us on a solid statutory footing as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012. At this time we took on responsibility for developing guidance and quality standards in social care, and our name changed once more to reflect these new responsibilities.
As an NDPB, we are accountable to our sponsor department, the Department of Health and Social Care, but operationally we are independent of government.
The way NICE was established in legislation means that our guidance is officially England-only. However, we have agreements to provide certain NICE products and services to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Decisions on how our guidance applies in these countries are made by the devolved administrations, who are often involved and consulted with in the development of NICE guidance.
Contact:
Address: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 10 Spring Gardens London SW1A 2BU
Tel.: +44 300 323 0140
Website: https://www.nice.org.uk/
Email: nice@nice.org.uk