NICE process and methods

6 Transparency

6 Transparency

NICE is committed to making the process of developing quality standards transparent to stakeholders and the public.

6.1 Public access to meetings of the Quality Standards Advisory Committees (QSACs)

QSAC meetings are open to members of the public and press. This supports NICE's commitment to openness and transparency and enables stakeholders and the public to better understand how quality standards are developed and consultation comments taken into account. Anyone who wishes to attend can register via the meetings in public page on the NICE website.

If an item on the agenda includes commercial- or academic-in-confidence information, it is discussed at a separate session of the meeting, from which the public is excluded. The decision to hold a separate session is made by the QSAC chair and the responsible NICE director.

6.2 Access to documents

To ensure that the process is as transparent as possible, NICE considers it desirable that all information relevant to the development of quality standards is publicly available. The following supporting documents are therefore published on the NICE website:

  • topic overview

  • briefing paper

  • equality analyses

  • consultation comments and summary report.

Links to the relevant policy context and key development guidance are also provided.

The minutes of the QSAC meetings are published on the NICE website after they have been ratified by the QSAC.

6.3 Freedom of Information Act 2000

Nothing in this document will restrict any disclosure of information by NICE that is required by law (including, in particular but without limitation, the Freedom of Information Act 2000).