Single technology appraisal (STA) timeline

• wk0

  Development starts

  We invite relevant stakeholders to take part in the appraisal.

  All non-company consultees have 8 weeks to submit a statement on the potential clinical and cost effectiveness of a treatment.

  Find out more about consultee submissions

   

  Organisations can apply to become a consultee or commentator at any point of the process.

• wk0

  Request for evidence

  We ask the intervention technology company to produce a submission of all relevant evidence - published and unpublished - for the appraisal.

  They have 8 weeks to produce the company submission.

  Find out more about evidence submissions

• wk0

  Information added to the NICE website

  We add the remit, scope and a list of stakeholders to the website.

  The remit is the brief for the appraisal. The scope sets out what the technology appraisal will cover and the questions that need to be addressed.

• wk3

  Request for clinical, commissioning and patient experts 

  We ask the stakeholders to send in their nominations. The NICE team and the chair of the appraisal committee selects experts from those nominated.

  Experts can submit statements and attend the appraisal committee meeting to present their views.

• wk4

  Expert invitations

  We invite the selected clinical, commissioning and patient experts to attend the appraisal committee. We ask them to submit a statement on the technology and how it should be used in the NHS in England.

• wk8

  Deadline for evidence submissions

• wk9

  Evidence review begins

  An independent academic centre (called the Evidence Review Group) critiques the company's evidence submission and prepares a report on the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of the technology. This is called the ERG report.

• wk10

  Request for clarification sent to company

  If the evidence submission is incomplete, we consult with the Evidence Review Group and send a letter of clarification to the company.

  The company has 10 working days to respond.

• wk12

  Deadline for receipt of the expert statements

• wk16

  Evidence report (ERG) received by NICE

• wk16

  ERG report sent to company for information

• wk20

  Draft technical report sent to stakeholders for technical engagement

  Consultees and commentators and experts can share their views on the technical report.

  The technical report is produced by the technical team at NICE. It is based on initial consideration of:

  • the company submission
  • the ERG report
  • consultee and commentator and expert statements
  • discussions with the company or experts about the appraisal.

  Stakeholders have 20 working days to submit comments.

• wk28

  Documents sent to the appraisal committee

  The appraisal committee is an independent advisory committee that makes the recommendations.

  We send attendees:

  • the ERG report and any comments
  • the company submission
  • written submissions from non-company consultees
  • personal statements from patient, clinical and commissioning experts
  • the final scope of the appraisal and the list of stakeholders
  • technical report
  • comments received during technical engagement.

  We don’t send the papers to any members of the public who have registered to attend the meeting.

  Find out more about the committee and how you can attend a meeting.

• wk30

  Appraisal committee meet to consider the evidence

  We hold an appraisal committee meeting to consider the committee papers and hear from nominated clinical, patient and NHS commissioning experts.

  The committee decides whether to produce final recommendations, known as a final appraisal document (FAD) or draft recommendations known as an appraisal consultation document (ACD).

  The FAD is the final draft of the guidance and not open to comment (see week 35).

  If an ACD is needed we send the document out for comment (see week 33).

  We only produce an ACD when the recommendations from the appraisal committee don’t recommend use of the technology, or limit the use of the technology beyond the specifications in the marketing authorisation.

  Part 1 of this meeting is open to members of the public and press.

  Register to attend a meeting

  For non-cancer topics, the committee meeting cannot go ahead until the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) opinion is published.

If a final appraisal document (FAD) is produced

• wk35

  FAD and supporting documents sent out to stakeholders

  Consultees have 15 days to appeal against the final recommendations in the FAD.

  Find out more about the appeals process
  

• wk36

  FAD published

  We publish the FAD and supporting documents on our website for information.
• wk38

  Close of appeal period

  If no appeals have been received, the guidance is prepared for publication. If appeals have been received, the appeals process is followed.

• wk40

  Technology appraisal published

  If there are no appeals we issue the final recommendations as NICE guidance.

  We publish the technology appraisal on the NICE website and incorporate it into NICE Pathways. Registered stakeholders are notified by email.

  When the guidance is published we give a date for it to be reviewed. This is when we consult with relevant organisations about whether the guidance needs to be updated.

  Find out more about the review process

  This is the earliest possible point that final guidance can be issued.

If an appraisal consultation document (ACD) is produced

• wk33

  ACD and supporting documents sent out for comment

  Stakeholders have 20 working days to submit comments on the draft recommendations.

   
• wk34

  Public consultation on the ACD

  The ACD and supporting documents are published on the website for comment. The consultation is open for 15 working days.

  Anyone can submit comments during the consultation.

  View current consultations

   
• wk38

  Consultation on the ACD ends

• wk39

  Appraisal committee meet to develop the FAD

  The appraisal committee considers the comments received on the ACD, then makes its final recommendations on how the technology should be used in the NHS in England. This is the FAD.

   

  Part 1 of the meeting is open to members of the public and press.

  Register to attend a meeting

• wk44

  FAD and supporting documents sent to stakeholders

  Consultees have 15 working days to appeal against the final recommendations in the FAD.

  Find out more about the appeals process

   
• wk45

  FAD published

  We publish the FAD and supporting documents on our website for information.

• wk47

  Close of appeal period

  If no appeals have been received, the guidance is prepared for publication. If appeals have been received, the appeals process is followed.

• wk49

  Technology appraisal published

  If there are no appeals we issue the final recommendations as NICE guidance.

  We publish the technology appraisal on the NICE website. Registered stakeholders are notified by email.

  When the guidance is published we give a date for it to be reviewed. This is when we consult with relevant organisations about whether the guidance needs to be updated.

  Find out more about the review process