Feature / NICE update

NICE published the following guidance in November:

Diagnostic technology
• DG6 electroencephalography (EEG)-based depth of anaesthesia monitors – Bispectral Index (BIS), E-Entropy and Narcotrend-Compact M – The resource impact of the NICE diagnostics guidance on the access to ‘depth of anaesthesia’ monitors for patients at higher risk of adverse outcomes during general anaesthesia will vary depending on local current practice and future procurement decisions and should be investigated locally. The national cost impact of implementing the guidance is uncertain, since the guidance states that use of the monitors is an option under certain circumstances.
  Technology guidance
• TA266 Mannitol dry powder for inhalation for treating cystic fibrosis – The guidance is not anticipated to result in a significant change in resource use in the NHS. This is based on the assumption that the eligible patient population is estimated to be less than 300.
• TA267 Ivabradine for treating chronic heart failure – The annual cost to the commissioner associated with implementing this recommendation is estimated as £2.9m for the total population of England, based on the standard assumptions in the model. It is estimated that 50% of the eligible population will be treated with the drug by year five.
  Public health guidance
• PH 41-walking and cycling – Because of the variation in current practice and the variability of future interventions that will be commissioned, it is not possible to quantify the national cost impact of the recommendations. This report discusses the potential costs and benefits that need to be considered at a local level.
• PH 42 Obesity: working with local communities – It is not anticipated that the guidance will have a significant cost impact nationally. This is because previous NICE guidance and a number of government policies and initiatives are already being implemented, although adherence is varied. Individual organisations may incur additional costs at a local level when implementing the guidance.

NICE update was prepared by Stephen Brookfield, senior costing analyst at NICE