ABSTRACT
NICE became a pioneer in patient and public involvement at an early stage. This reflected not only an ethical commitment but also a pragmatic calculation that it would make guidance better, and also more likely to be implemented. Patients were involved in NICE’s deliberative processes, for example committees deciding on the appraisal of each drug and on each NICE guideline. A Citizens Council was also set up early on and advised NICE on the social values it should follow. We describe the establishment and work of the Citizens Council and assess its impact. Most recently NICE has left this body behind in favour of ‘NICE Listens’.
