Transparency data

NICE annual accountability review meeting minutes: 1 November 2021

Updated 19 March 2024

Chair and attendees

Chair

Lord Syed Kamall, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Innovation, Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Attendees

• Professor Gillian Leng, Chief executive (NICE)
• Kathryn Glover, Deputy director of Medicines Regulation and Prescribing (DHSC)
• Head of NICE sponsorship (DHSC)
• Policy officer, NICE sponsorship (DHSC)
• Private secretary (DHSC)

Apologies were received from Sharmila Nebhrajani, Chair (NICE) and Liz Woodeson, Medicines director (DHSC).

Opening remarks

Lord Kamall opened the meeting by thanking professor Leng for her and NICE’s staff’s continued dedication and hard work over the last year. Despite the challenges, NICE has continued to play a key role in supporting the health and care system over the course of this year, both in the coronavirus (COVID-19) recovery and in resuming business as usual activities.

Review of the year (2020 to 2021) and strategic challenges

Professor Leng reflected on NICE’s performance over the year, noting the ambitious 5-year strategy published in April 2021 and the support that NICE provided to the COVID-19 response. The biggest challenge for NICE now is supporting the system as it recovers from the pandemic, whilst transforming the organisation in line with the ambitions set out in the strategy. Professor Leng discussed NICE’s plans to bring in a new director for digital and medical technologies to boost NICE’s capacity in this area, and reflected on the value of NICE guidelines to the system but acknowledged that it is difficult to keep such a large portfolio of guidance up to date. NICE is working with system partners to prioritise topics where updates can add the most value.

On the methods review, professor Leng noted that the consultation on final proposals was broadly well received and overall, the proposals will support the rapid introduction of new cost-effective treatments. There was a discussion about the challenges of balancing diverse stakeholder views on changes to NICE’s methods and processes, including industry’s concern regarding the level of ambition for the review, with the supporting evidence and the need to ensure that changes are aligned to the expectations set out in the Voluntary Scheme agreement with industry.

Professor Leng commented that NICE has been working closely with NHS England on proposals for the Innovative Medicines Fund and confirmed that the consultation will launch shortly.

Lord Kamall noted that there have been some instances where the rapid approval of new medicines has resulted in a gap between marketing authorisation and NICE approval and asked how this will be resolved. Professor Leng acknowledged that some gaps have arisen as a result of Project Orbis speeding up licencing approval. Work is underway to enable the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), NICE and other UK health technology assessment bodies to work in a more collaborative way, supported by greater information sharing.

Lord Kamall invited reflections on the challenges and successes of growing the board, following the appointment of 6 new non-executive directors (NEDs) on 1 April 2021. A key challenge has been around the induction of new NEDs whilst working remotely. Meetings are now being held face to face, and a very positive board strategy session was held in October. Holding board meetings virtually has also limited the board’s ability to engage directly with patient groups and clinicians, and NICE is looking for other opportunities for engagement in the future. NICE will shortly be recruiting for 2 additional NEDs with experience in health economics and in leading integrated care systems. This will enable a broad skill set across the board.

Financial position

Professor Leng confirmed that NICE has a range of scenario plans to help prioritise work and move forward in the face of the anticipated spending review settlement. However, she emphasised the importance of additional funding to ensure the success of the strategic ambitions. Kathryn Glover set out next steps in the spending review process and provided assurances that the NICE sponsorship team will inform NICE of any developments.

Closing remarks

Lord Kamall invited any final comments before concluding the meeting. He thanked professor Leng and her colleagues across NICE for their continued support.