National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
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NICE Pathways: mapping our guidance

More than 90 per cent of NICE guidance can now be viewed through NICE Pathways - the fastest and easiest way of accessing NICE guidance and resources 

NICE Pathways have been developed to provide a simple way of seeing everything NICE has said on a particular topic. Each NICE pathway maps out our guidance, and brings together all relevant NICE products such as quality standards, and support tools.

Over the past year, the amount of guidance that can be accessed via NICE Pathways has more than doubled, so that 92 per cent is now available.

NICE Pathways that have been recently added include ones on contraceptive serviceshead injury, and mental wellbeing and older people.

The NICE Pathway on dementia is among the most frequently visited pathways in NICE's library.

Around 670,000 people in England are thought to have dementia - a condition costs the NHS an estimated £19 billion. Yet less than half of people with the condition ever receive a formal diagnosis. Though many people with dementia receive excellent care, the quality of support offered at care homes can often differ.

Advice on the diagnosis, assessment, management and care of people with the condition can be found in NICE's dementia pathway, which maps out all of NICE's recommendations on the topic

Information covered includes advice for primary care professionals on when to refer people with early signs for specialist assessment.

The pathway provides recommendations for the integration and coordination of health and social care, for the planning and delivery of services such as home care, day services, and specialist mental health services.

Recommendations from NICE technology appraisals of drugs for Alzheimer's disease can be found within the node for dementia interventions. The 'Into Practice' link at the top of the pathway also provides access to a range of resources to help implement the guidance, such as support for commissioners and support for education and learning.

Other popular topics in NICE's library include the pathways on diabetes and obesity. Both bring together clinical recommendations, public health advice on areas such as physical activity, and guidance relevant for local government.

Professor Gillian Leng, Deputy Chief Executive of NICE, said: "With 92 per cent of our guidance now accessible, there is no better time to use NICE Pathways, especially if they are new to you.

"Our pathways are designed to be useful for anyone who uses our guidance, presenting both a broad overview of a topic area, and detailed recommendations which can be explored further."

She added: "Each pathway pulls together everything that NICE has said on a topic. So visiting the NICE Pathway on dementia or diabetes, will provide you with advice not just from the relevant clinical guideline, but from technology appraisals and quality standards too."

Professor Tony Kendrick, Professor of Primary Care and Population Sciences at the University of Southampton, said: "NICE Pathways are a logical and useful way of bringing together various pieces of guidance together under one banner.

"The ability to get an overview of a topic is particularly useful, as it allows you to get an outline of a topic area but also access the relevant detail."

Channel website: https://www.nice.org.uk/

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