The National Clinical
Guidelines Centre for Acute and Chronic Conditions was formed on
the 1st April 2009 by a merger of the National Collaborating Centre
for Primary Care with 3 other National Collaborating Centres – the
National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions (hosted by the
Royal College of Physicians), the National Collaborating Centres
for Acute Care (hosted by the Royal College of Surgeons) and
the National Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Supportive Care
(hosted by the Royal College of Nursing).
The new centre is hosted
by the Royal College of Physicians and governance is provided by a
board with representatives from the four Royal Colleges who
hosted the original centres.
This is a great opportunity for GPs to have
more involvement across a wider spectrum of guideline topics,
working more closely with secondary care colleagues. GPs are to be
encouraged even more to contribute to the guideline development
process in terms of representation, commenting on draft guidance,
and involvement in implementation. GPs wishing to participate in
this process should register an interest in this work by registering as an Expert
Resource.
The National Collaborating Centre for
Primary Care (NCC-PC) was responsible for producing
successful guidelines for the National Institute for Health and
Clinical Excellence (NICE) on behalf of the College for 8 years. A
mix of skilled professionals including information scientists,
research fellows, health economists and project managers, led by
Nancy Turnbull, Chief Executive and Dr Norma O’Flynn,
Clinical Director have produced a series of high quality
evidence-based guidelines across a range of primary care
topics.
Guidelines developed by the NCC-PC include the
first Type 2 Diabetes guidelines, Anxiety and Familial Breast
Cancer topics led by the former unit in ScHARR in Sheffield headed
by Professor Alan Hutchinson; the Referral for Suspected Cancer and
Epilepsy topics developed by the Leicester Unit under the
leadership of Professor Richard Baker, and a large selection of
topics from the NCC centre in London – MI, Lipid Modification,
Familial Hypercholesterolaemia, CFS/ME, Postnatal Care, Obesity and
Medicines Adherence.
The College will continue to
engage with NICE through a number of other routes. As well
as representation on the Board of the new NCC, The RCGP will
continue links with the Implementation team at NICE, and through
representation on the new NHS Evidence
Advisory Committee, and the Quality and Outcomes Framework
Programme, which is transferring to NICE.
Details of completed frameworks, guidelines in progress,
and information on stakeholder registration can be found on
the NICE
website.