Implementing NICE guidelines: the difficulties
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Basu, Abhijit; Bellis, Amanda
- Source
- Clinical Governance: An International Journal, 2007, Vol. 12, Issue 4, pp. 267-269.
- Subject
- review-article
General review
cat-HSC
Health & social care
cat-HMAN
Healthcare management
cat-HSQ
Health service quality
cat-HSD
Health service delivery
Auditing
Auditing guidelines
Medical care
United Kingdom
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1477-7274
This purpose of this study is to look at the availability of routine antenatal anti‐D prophylaxis (RAADP) in the maternity units within the North‐west Deanery, England five years after the publication of this technology appraisal guideline (no. 41) by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Antenatal clinics of all the major 18 maternity hospitals were contacted about their existing practice on RAADP. Responses were obtained by facsimile and telephone.
A total of 11 of the 18 units had implemented the practice between April 2003 and May 2007. Some had changed their practice from two doses to a single dose on the grounds of logistics. Cost appeared to be the most important reason in non‐user units. The practice is under consideration in two units.
There may be difficulty in universal implementation of NICE guidelines despite the supporting evidence.
This study demonstrates the issue of difficulty of local health economies in supporting national guidelines.