Glossary

The NICE glossary provides brief definitions and explanations of terms and jargon used on our site. The terms describe how we work and how our guidance is produced.

Our glossary excludes specific clinical and medical terms although we intend to include these in the longer term. If you cannot find the term you are looking for, please email us so that we can consider adding it to the glossary.

The glossary is not used for indexing the site or for navigation - for information on this, please see the NICE taxonomy.

We still have relatively few terms in the glossary. New terms are added monthly.

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	Appeals period The final stage of the technology appraisal process, during which the manufacturers and organisations representing patients and carers and healthcare professionals (consultees) can appeal against the final guidance (final appraisal determination) before it is issued to the NHS. The appeals period is 15 working days.
	Appeals process Appeals process is the final part of the NICE appraisal process to ensure that the final guidance is robust, where organisations representing patients and carers, healthcare professionals and manufacturers can appeal against final advice given by the independent advisory committee on a specific medicine or treatment.
	Appraisal consultation documents (ACD) The Appraisal Committee's draft guidance about using a drug (or group of similar drugs) or treatment in the NHS (a technology appraisal). The manufacturer and organisations registered as consultees and commentators can comment on the draft guidance during a consultation period that lasts 4 weeks. The draft guidance is also posted on our website, so that anyone can read it.
	Assessment group This term relates to: Technology appraisals An independent group of researchers commissioned by NICE to review the evidence on a group of treatments. The assessment group includes researchers who assess the quality of studies on the treatments, and health economists who look at whether the treatments are good value for money. The Appraisal Committee bases its discussions on the assessment report produced by the assessment group.
	Assessment report This term relates to: Technology appraisals A review of the evidence about how well a group of similar treatments work, and whether they offer value for money. The assessment report forms the basis of the Appraisal Committee's discussions. The assessment report is written by an assessment group. Assessment reports are produced for treatments being assessed using the multiple technology appraisal process, in which several similar drugs are assessed together. Organisations registered as consultees and commentators can comment on the report.
	Audit Committee A subcommittee of NICE's board that keeps a check on NICE's finances and other aspects of the way the organisation is run.

Glossary

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Appeals period

Appeals process

Appraisal consultation documents (ACD)

Assessment group

Assessment report

Audit Committee

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