NICE (UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence) consults on confidential enquiries reform:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued proposals to reform the national confidential enquiries process. The document proposes "wide-ranging and challenging" changes to the remit, organisational structure and methodology of the enquiries, with the aim of giving the recommendations arising from them a similar status as other NICE guidance. NICE received responsibility for the four current enquiries, including the national confidential enquiry into perioperative deaths (NCEPOD) - in 1999. The enquiries aim to improve clinical practice through the investigation of deaths in specific circumstances. The full consultation document is available on the NICE website (www.nice.org.uk). The deadline for responses is October 31 2001.