NICE is aware that there have been concerns about the associated costs that pregabalin may bring to the NHS as one of the first line treatment options for adults with neuropathic pain. NICE, in collaboration with the Health Technology Assessment group are reviewing the economic modelling. Until a further announcement is made, the guideline continues to represent best practice for the NHS.

NICE published a guideline for the pharmacological management of neuropathic pain in adults in non-specialist settings in March 2010. NICE is aware that there have been concerns about the associated costs that pregabalin may bring to the NHS as one of the first line treatment options for adults with neuropathic pain. In light of new evidence regarding the first line treatment options, NICE will be holding a consultation from 9.00am on Monday 12 September until 9.00am on Monday 10 October 2011 on proposed changes to some of its recommendations in clinical guideline 96 on the pharmacological management of neuropathic pain in non-specialist healthcare settings. If you wish to comment, you need to do so via one of the registered stakeholder organisations listed, by the deadline shown. 

Until a further announcement is made, guideline CG96 continues to represent best practice for the NHS cg96

A clinical practice guideline on Neuropathic pain: the pharmacological management of neuropathic pain in adults in non-specialist settings is being developed for use in the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Registered stakeholders for this guideline are invited to comment on the provisional recommendations via this website. 

Individuals and organisations not registered as stakeholders are not able to comment, we recommend that you register as a stakeholder or you contact the registered stakeholder organisation that most closely represents your interests and pass your comments to them.

Note that the provisional recommendations presented here do not constitute the Institute's formal guidance on this topic. The recommendations are provisional and may change after consultation.

Consultation dates: 12 September – 9am on 10 October 2011

Consultation documents

• Full version
• Appendices
• Comments proforma

The full version describes the evidence and views that have been considered, and sets out the provisional recommendations that have been developed.

Points to consider in the consultation

Full version

• Points or areas that are not covered, but which appear to fall within the scope of the guideline
• Potential inconsistencies or any disagreement with the Guideline Development Groups interpretation of the evidence
• The practical value of the provisional recommendations.
• Issues of style and format; for example, stakeholders may feel that the information could be made more readable and easy to follow.

General

• Do you think this guidance could be changed to better promote equality of opportunity relating to age, disability, gender, gender identity, ethnicity, religion and belief, sexual orientation or socio-economic status?

In answering this question, please include details of:

• Which particular parts of the guidance you think affect equality of opportunity.
• Why and how you think equality of opportunity is affected.

How to submit your comments

Please provide all responses to the draft guideline documents using the comments proforma (ensuring all relevant fields are completed, including your organisation’s full name) and forward this electronically by 9am on 10 October 2011 at the very latest to this email address:  NeuropathicPain@nice.org.uk

The Institute is unable to accept:

• Comments from non-registered organisations – if you wish your comments to be considered please register via the NICE website
• Comments from individuals – please contact the registered stakeholder organisation that most closely represents your interests and pass your comments to them.
• Comments received after the consultation deadline (9am)
• Comments that are not on the correct proforma
•  More than one response per stakeholder organisation
• Confidential information or other material that you would not wish to be made public
• Personal medical information about yourself or another person from which your or the person’s identity could be ascertained.

What will happen to your comments

• All eligible comments  will be sent to the developers at the end of the consultation
• No action will be taken upon receipt of personal, individual comments, comments from non-registered organisations and late comments.
• PLEASE NOTE: The Institute reserves the right to summarise and edit comments received during consultations, or not to publish them at all, where in the reasonable opinion of the Institute, the comments are voluminous, publication would be unlawful or publication would be otherwise inappropriate.

Acknowledgement of comments

You should receive an automated acknowledgement from the email box when you email your comments.  If you do not receive this acknowledgement, please contact the relevant Guidelines Coordinator to ensure your comments have been safely received.

Comments received in the course or consultations carried out by the Institute are published in the interests of openness and transparency, and to promote understanding of how recommendations are developed. The comments are published as a record of the submissions that the Institute has received, and are not endorsed by the Institute, its officers or advisory committees.

Anticipated publication date: December 2011

Further information

More information on NICE’s guideline development process