Nice seeks applications from schizophrenia patients

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice) is looking for people with schizophrenia and carers to give their views on clinical guidance issues.

As part of its patient and public involvement programme, the independent organisation is seeking applications from both patients and people who may care for them to take part in group meetings to formulate guidelines on best practice modes in the treatment of people with schizophrenia by public healthcare services.

The group will provide advice and service user input on the experiences of patients and their families during periods of psychiatric care and will contribute towards the body’s updated recommendations for the NHS.

Also invited to sit in on group discussions are policy officers from support services which provide assistance to people with mental illness.

Nice asserts: “All members of guideline development groups have equal status, which reflects the relevance and importance of their different expertise and experience.”

The organisation adds that everyone participating in the group is required to attend frequent meetings and do background reading on relevant issues.

In related news, Nice is also appealing for applications from people to join a patient involvement group examining NHS care for patients having antibiotic treatments to prevent infective endocarditis.