The Patient and Public Involvement Programme is looking for applications from patients, parents and/or carers to sit on the group developing a clinical guideline looking at the use of antibiotics to prevent patients developing infective endocarditis while undergoing dental and other surgical procedures. This is known as antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Infective endocarditis is a condition which affects the internal lining of the heart (the endocardium), and certain people (such as those with artificial heart valves or congenital heart conditions) are thought to be susceptible to developing this condition during dental or other surgery.

This guideline is being considered by NICE to see if using antibiotics prior to dental and other surgical procedures is helpful in preventing people developing endocarditis. A scoping workshop is to be held on 17 th April 2007 to review the outline (scope) for this proposed guideline.

Patient and carer members of this group will play a key role in making sure that patients’ views, experiences and interests (and those of their families and carers) inform the guideline's development and its recommendations to the NHS.

All members of Guideline Development Groups have equal status, which reflects the relevance and importance of their different expertise and experience. They include health professionals and researchers as well as patient and carer members. All Group members need to attend regular meetings and undertake background reading.

We would welcome an application from you if you have:

• experience or knowledge of the issues important to patients with (or at risk of) infective endocarditis, for example, as someone
  - who has (or has had) infective endocarditis, or one of the conditions that make people susceptible to developing it or
  - who is the relative or carer of someone who has (or has had) infective endocarditis or one of the conditions that make people susceptible or
  - who is a policy officer from a relevant patient organisation
  
• an understanding of, and a willingness to reflect, the experiences and needs of a wider network of relevant patients (perhaps as a member of a support group or patient organisation)
  
• time to commit to the work of the group: attending meetings, background reading, commenting on draft products etc.
  
• good communication and team working skills

Health professionals will be well represented on the group so we are looking for someone without a health professional background.

Patient members of Guideline Development Groups are paid an attendance fee and travel expenses are also reimbursed. The Patient and Public Involvement Programme will provide patient/carer members with dedicated and ongoing support throughout their time on the Group.

For further information about what the role involves and other relevant information please use the links below:

• Prophylaxis for infective endocarditis Guideline – patient/carer members “job description” (Form A)
• Prophylaxis for infective endocarditis Guideline – application form & personal statement (Form B)
• Information sheet on Declaration of Interests

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact Victoria Thomas, Programme Manager: Patient and Public Involvement Programme, NICE, Patient and Public Involvement Programme, MidCity Place, London, WC1V 6NA. victoria.thomas@nice.org.uk.

Decisions about who to recruit to the Guideline Development Group will rest with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Please note that submitting an application does not automatically guarantee a place on the Group.

TO APPLY

The application form is downloadable by using the link above; if you would like to receive hard copies of the information, please contact Victoria Thomas as above. Please return form B (either in hard copy or in electronic format) to Victoria Thomas as above.

Please note that a workshop will be held on 17 th April to discuss the project in more detail. Please contact Victoria if you would like to attend this workshop, or indicate this on your application form.

Please return your completed forms by the end of 30 th April 2007.

• Further information about the Prophylaxis for Infective Endocarditis guideline project

• Further information about the Patient and Public Involvement Programme