ABSTRACT
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has a commitment to involve patients, carers and the public in its work and this extends beyond their involvement in NICE's decision making, and guidance development. NICE's Patient and Public Involvement Programme supports these individuals and organisations in their initiatives to increase awareness of NICE's recommendations for best practice. Patients and healthcare professionals may have very different views about the sort of care that is currently being provided and how best to provide or organise care in line with NICE recommendations. Local and national patient, carer and voluntary organisations can also help disseminate these lay versions of NICE guidance to their members and contacts. NICE has a team that produces 'commissioning guides' to support commissioners in primary care trusts. The main area in which patients and the public are involved in NICE's implementation activities is in developing the support tools for trusts and local authorities.
