The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) performs multiple roles: it provides guidance, sets quality standards and manages a national database to improve people's health and to prevent and treat ill health. It aims to produce high quality clinical guidelines with an independent open and transparent decision-making process, using the best available published evidence with input from experts and other interested parties.

NICE works with experts from wideranging fields, including the NHS, local authorities and many others in the public, private, voluntary and community sectors. It also places great emphasis on its ‘Patient and Public Involvement Programme’.