Cover of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Guidelines

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence: Guidelines

Copyright © 2003-2024, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, unless otherwise stated.

NICE clinical guidelines are recommendations on the appropriate treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions within the NHS in England and Wales. They are based on the best available evidence and aim to improve the quality of healthcare by changing the process of healthcare and improving people's chances of getting as well as possible. NICE clinical guidelines:

  • provide recommendations for the treatment and care of people by health professionals
  • are used to develop standards to assess the clinical practice of individual health professionals
  • are used in the education and training of health professionals
  • help patients to make informed decisions
  • improve communication between patient and health professional

NICE clinical guidelines help healthcare professionals in their work, but they do not replace their knowledge and skills. All NICE guidance is available on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk.