National Clinical Guideline Centre
The NCGC is commissioned to develop NICE clinical practice guidelines. NICE guidelines provide care standards within the NHS for healthcare professionals, patients and their carers on the prevention, treatment and care of people with specific diseases and conditions. The NCGC specialises in guidance for acute and chronic conditions and delivers a large work programme covering a wide variety of clinical and service delivery topics.
The NCGC was formed in April 2009 following the merger of the National Collaborating Centres for Acute Care, Chronic Conditions, Nursing and Supportive Care and Primary Care. Hosted by the Royal College of Physicians, the NCGC is one of the largest clinical guideline development organisations in the world.
The work of the NCGC is overseen by a governance partnership between the Royal Colleges of General Practitioners, Nursing, Physicians and Surgeons. Each college is represented on the NCGC management board, alongside representatives from the Royal College of Physicians Patient and Carer Network, the UK Cochrane Centre, and NHS England.
The NCGC is a vibrant, dedicated and enthusiastic team with a staff of 70 people. The majority are research specialists in systematic reviewing, health economics and information science, supported by operational and clinical directors, project managers and project co-ordinators.
Each guideline in the NCGC work programme is overseen by an independent guideline development group (GDG). Membership of a GDG comprises healthcare professionals and patient/carer representatives supported by the NCGC technical team. GDGs meet regularly to review evidence and develop guideline recommendations. All guidelines are supported by robust processes for stakeholder consultation, ensuring that all available evidence and perspectives are taken into account prior to publication.
