Meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal disease: recognition, diagnosis and management

Resource impact statement

The NICE guideline on meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal disease: recognition, diagnosis and management updates and replaces the former guideline that published in 2010. The guideline update covers recognising, diagnosing and managing bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease in babies, children, young people and adults. It aims to reduce death and disability by helping healthcare professionals recognise meningitis and treat it quickly and effectively.

We expect that the resource impact of this update:

• for any single guideline recommendation in England will be less than £1 million per year (or approximately £1,800 per 100,000 population, based on a population for England of 56.6 million people) and
• for implementing the whole guideline in England will be less than £5 million per year (or approximately £8,800 per 100,000 population, based on a population for England of 56.6 million people).

This is because the population covered by the guideline is small, around 560 people per year or 1 per 100,000 population (based on 2018/19 incidence). Overall the recommendations are in line with existing practice although there are some possibilities for savings through reduced length of stay in hospital and using treatments which require fewer administrations. These savings are not expected to be significant at a national level due to the small population size.

Services for people with meningitis (bacterial) and meningococcal disease are commissioned by integrated care boards. Neonatal intensive care units are commissioned by NHS England. Providers are NHS hospital trusts.