The National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (NCEC), under the Minister for Health’s authority, ensures National Clinical Guidelines (NCGs) are developed using best practice. NCGs help us ensure that healthcare is based on the best available evidence. NCGs help us ensure that the healthcare we provide is effective, safe and leads to the best outcomes for patients and the healthcare system, given the resources available. The Evidence to Support Clinical Guideline development team funded by HRB (HRB ESCG) will support the NCEC’s work by providing the evidence base, and offering scientific support, to NCG developers. HRB-ESCG will be based within HIQA. It will be supported by experienced, multidisciplinary researchers from HIQA’s Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Directorate and from Trinity College Dublin (TCD), patient and public partners, and other national and international experts. HRB ESCG’s work will build on HIQA’s previous programme that has provided research support for NCEC since 2017 and will continue to follow and contribute to international best practice. HRB-ESCG, HIQA, and TCD will collaborate to share skills and will work closely with guideline developers, including patient partners, to help translate research findings into evidence-based recommendations usable by all. When research gaps or better methods for gathering evidence are identified, HRB-ESCG will advise the NCEC, so that processes may be improved. HRB-ESCG will provide training to guideline developers and researchers to help them develop guidelines of the highest quality. HRB-ESCG will share its reports and findings with key stakeholders including the general public to increase awareness of its work, with the aim of improving understanding and accessibility. In summary, HRB-ESCG within HIQA and its collaborating patient, clinician and university partners will play a crucial role in ensuring that NCGs in Ireland are developed using the best research methods and best available evidence to maximise benefit for patients and the healthcare system.
