National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence


NICE

Medspeak-UK
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. A special health authority created in 1999—at which time it was called National Institute for Clinical Excellence—in England and Wales to promote the highest quality of treatment and technology in the NHS, as well as the cost-effectiveness of its services. NICE co-ordinates the National Collaborating Centres from whom it commissions the development of clinical practice guidelines, gives advice on best clinical practice to the NHS and produces and disseminates clinical guidelines.
NICE provides national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health to those commissioning NHS services (health authorities and primary care trusts), as well as to patients and their carers. NICE covers individual health technologies (e.g., medicines, medical devices, etc.), diagnostic techniques, procedures and clinical management of specific conditions. It sets national standards to improve the quality and consistency of NHS services in England and Wales.
NICE merged in 2005 with the Health Development Agency and is now officially the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (but still known as NICE).
Popular psychology
A colloquial acronym for a technique used to reduce the stress of new situations, which should be viewed as being New, Interesting and Challenging Experiences, rather than with FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt).