Prioritisation board decisions 2025
Decisions will only be reviewed where there are factual errors or when significant new evidence comes to light following publication.
Stakeholders can seek clarification within 20 working days following the publication of the prioritisation board's decisions.
| Prioritisation board meeting date | Topic title | Decision | Routing decision | Rationale | Decision publication date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2025 | Digital health technologies to support the self-management of people with chronic kidney disease | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board recognised that Health Technology Wales is currently addressing this topic and that therefore it should not be prioritised for NICE to address at this time. | 19 June 2025 |
| 19 May 2025 | Technologies for detection and monitoring of chronic kidney disease in the community | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board did not prioritise this topic. They noted that there are two potential use-cases for the technology – for early detection, and for monitoring. Regarding early detection, they noted that the NICE guideline on Chronic kidney disease (NG203) contains comprehensive recommendations for the targeted screening of patients at risk of CKD. They did not feel that there was a clear role for point of care testing here. Regarding monitoring, the Board did not feel that there was a clear use-case for the technology which would lead to patient benefit over the existing laboratory testing approach. They agreed that further research on this topic would potentially be beneficial and will liaise with the NIHR to explore this. | 19 June 2025 |
| 19 May 2025 | Gel nail polish UK dentistry | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed that the question of whether it is appropriate for dentists to be able to wear gel nail polish is a professional standards issue and not within NICE’s remit. | 19 June 2025 |
| 19 May 2025 | Charles Bonnet syndrome | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed that the key issue relating to this topic is primarily one of awareness, with a need for relevant clinicians to be aware of the condition so that it can form part of their assessment of patients. They felt that this is primarily a training issue and consequently a topic that would be best addressed through ensuring it is included in professional training curricula. Therefore, Prioritisation Board did not prioritise this topic. | 19 June 2025 |
| 7 May 2025 | Thoracic endometriosis | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed that there is insufficient evidence available regarding this rare condition in order to develop useful and useable recommendations. It was recognised that there is European guidance on this topic and NICE will explore whether this can be cross-referred to. | 2 June 2025 |
| 7 May 2025 | Pessary care management | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed that existing NICE guidance on Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse (NG123) and Pelvic floor dysfunction (NG210) contain recommendations regarding the use of pessaries and that therefore this topic was not a priority to address. | 2 June 2025 |
| 7 May 2025 | Hyperinsulinism in adults | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed that there is insufficient evidence available regarding this rare condition in order to develop useful and useable recommendations. | 2 June 2025 |
| 7 May 2025 | Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board recognised that there are ongoing technology appraisals for biological treatments for this condition. They also noted that there is currently only limited evidence available regarding surgical options and consequently agreed that the topic should not be prioritised. | 2 June 2025 |
| 7 May 2025 | Non-diabetic foot ulcers | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board recognised that there are existing National Wound Care Strategy Programme recommendations regarding foot ulcers. They also noted that the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) has indicated that it will be developing guidance regarding lower limb ulcers. Consequently, they agreed that there would not be sufficient value in NICE developing additional guidance in this area and confirmed that the topic should not be prioritised. | 2 June 2025 |
| 7 May 2025 | Childhood hearing loss | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed that there is a lack of good quality evidence available on this topic. They also recognised that NICE has existing guidance on Otitis media with effusion in under 12s (NG233) which is a major cause of hearing loss in the paediatric population. Consequently, they agreed the topic should not be prioritised. | 2 June 2025 |
| 7 May 2025 | Cochlear implants for single-sided hearing loss | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed that given existing recommendations regarding cochlear implants for bilateral hearing loss in TA566, the issue of implants for single-sided hearing loss was not a priority for the system and consequently did not prioritise the topic. | 2 June 2025 |
| 7 May 2025 | Zanidatamab for treating HER2-positive advanced biliary tract cancer after 1 or more systemic treatments (ID6388) | Not prioritised as a highly specialised technology | Technology appraisals | Prioritisation Board agreed that criteria 1,2 and 4 of the highly specialised technology framework were not met (see NICE-wide topic prioritisation: the manual) and that therefore the treatment should be routed to the technology appraisals programme. | 2 June 2025 |
| 09 April 2025 | Prolonged grief disorder | Prioritised | Guidelines for an initial assessment of how the topic should be addressed | Prioritisation Board recognised that prolonged grief disorder has significant societal impacts and agreed that a guideline on the topic has the potential to improve outcomes for a large number of people in an area where there is limited guidance available currently. | 30 April 2025 |
| 09 April 2025 | Technologies for sampling abnormal cells in the oesophagus | Prioritised | HealthTech | Prioritisation Board recognised that the use of the technology for the surveillance of people with diagnosed Barrett’s oesophagus has the potential for reducing unnecessary endoscopies, thereby saving costs for the NHS and reducing waiting times for endoscopies overall. | 30 April 2025 |
| 09 April 2025 | Technologies to support pre-operative and post-operative rehabilitation for patients undergoing hip or knee surgery | Prioritised | HealthTech | Prioritisation Board recognised that the technology in this area has the potential to improve care and reduce waiting times for both pre-operative and post-operative rehabilitation. Consequently, they prioritised this topic. | 30 April 2025 |
| 09 April 2025 | Finger oximetry thresholds | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board noted that the recommendations regarding oximeters across NICE’s guideline portfolio contain information regarding the accuracy, proper placement of monitors and warnings about the potential for overestimation in people with darker skin tones. Consequently, they did not feel that updates to the recommendations were required and the topic was not prioritised. They recognised that there is a technology for in-ear oxygen measurement that has been selected as part of the Innovative Devices Access Pathway (IDAP) programme which will be assessed through that process. | 30 April 2025 |
| 09 April 2025 | Chemical adherence testing for apparent resistant hypertension | Not prioritised | N/A | The Prioritisation Board noted that there was only very limited evidence available on this topic and that consequently the topic should not be prioritised. NICE will engage with the NIHR to explore whether additional evidence can be generated on this topic. | 30 April 2025 |
| 26 March 2025 | Cataracts – intraocular lens selection (NG77) | Prioritised | Guidelines for initial assessment | Prioritisation Board recognised that there is good quality evidence on this topic, with recommendations regarding particular types of intraocular lens likely to lead to reduced rates of posterior capsule opacification – a common complication after cataract surgery. | 30 April 2025 |
| 26 March 2025 | Artificial Intelligence assisted Echocardiography to support diagnosis of heart failure | Prioritised | HealthTech | Prioritisation Board recognised the potential system benefits of AI-enhanced echocardiogram in leading to improved accuracy of diagnosis and reduced waiting times. Consequently, they agreed this topic should be prioritised. | 30 April 2025 |
| 26 March 2025 | Digital technologies that deliver CBT interventions for insomnia and insomnia symptoms (Disordered sleep) | Prioritised | HealthTech | Prioritisation Board recognised that chronic insomnia impacts on a large population and that digital technologies have the potential to address the unmet need of in-person CBT provision. They recognised that a range of different digital technologies are available and agreed that there would be value in a multi-tech assessment of these products. Consequently, they agreed to prioritise this topic. | 30 April 2025 |
| 26 March 2025 | Polihexanide eye drops for treating acanthamoeba keratitis in people 12 years and over (ID6497) | Not prioritised as a highly specialised technology | Technology appraisals | Prioritisation Board agreed that criteria 1,3 and 4 of the highly specialised technology criteria were not met (see appendix 1 of NICE-wide topic prioritisation: the manual). Consequently, it was agreed that the treatment should be routed to the technology appraisals programme. | 30 April 2025 |
| 26 March 2025 | Tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsilitis in adults | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board recognised that there is existing guidance from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges regarding tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsilitis. This guidance is aligned with advice for specialist assessment detailed in the clinical knowledge summary on sore throat. Consequently, they agreed that this topic should not be prioritised. | 30 April 2025 |
| 26 February 2025 | Blood transfusion (NG24) – tranexamic acid | Prioritised | Centre for Guidelines | Prioritisation Board recognised that there is good quality evidence to support expanding the population who could receive tranexamic acid during surgery. There also appear to be potential resource savings for the NHS. | 21 March 2025 |
| 26 February 2025 | Tics and Tourette’s syndrome | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed this is a complex topic that overlaps considerably with other conditions. Many of the challenges relate to service provision, where NICE guidance is likely to have limited impact. It was, however, recognised that there could be value in developing a clinical knowledge summary on this topic, and NICE will explore this possibility further. | 21 March 2025 |
| 26 February 2025 | Digital technologies to support people with severe mental illness in community settings | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed that there is a lack of evidence in this area, and a lack of certainty regarding the potential benefits of any technology to allow NICE to develop guidance on this topic. It is an area that may benefit from additional research and NICE will liaise with system partners to explore this need for evidence generation. | 21 March 2025 |
| 26 February 2025 | Machine perfusion devices for preservation of solid livers for transplant | Prioritised | HealthTech | Prioritisation Board agreed that this looked to be a promising technology that addresses an unmet need in the system. Consequently, they agreed that the topic should be prioritised. | 21 March 2025 |
| 24 January 2025 | Digital stethoscope for point-of-care detection of heart murmurs/arrhythmia | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board recognised that this is an important topic that will likely be of value to the system. However, they noted that there is an ongoing trial of this technology which is due to publish its results in December 2025. The topic will be reconsidered once those results have published. | 21 February 2025 |
| 24 January 2025 | Tuberculosis | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board recognised that this is an important topic but that other agencies may be better placed to develop guidance on this topic. NICE will liaise with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to explore options as to how guidance should be developed on this topic. | 21 February 2025 |
| 24 January 2025 | GP identification and management of life-threatening emergencies | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed that this topic is primarily related to training and professional development and that consequently NICE guidance on this topic would not be appropriate. | 21 February 2025 |
| 24 January 2025 | Plantar fibromatosis aka Ledderhose | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board agreed that there is very limited evidence available regarding this condition, and that there would not be value in producing a guideline. It was noted that there is an existing Clinical Knowledge Summary regarding Dupuytren’s disease and so it will be explored whether this could be expanded to also cover plantar fibromatosis. | 21 February 2025 |
| 24 January 2025 | Ketamine uropathy | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board noted that NICE has produced guidance regarding drug misuse prevention, and that there is a consensus statement from the British Association of Urological Surgeons on this topic. Consequently, they agreed that this topic should not be prioritised. | 21 February 2025 |
| 24 January 2025 | Pain management in people receiving long term end of life care | Not prioritised | N/A | Prioritisation Board noted that NICE has produced a range of guidance regarding pain management, some of which will be relevant to this population. It was agreed that NICE will not develop guidance in this area, but will explore whether a Clinical Knowledge Summary can be produced regarding pain management in non-cancer palliative care. | 21 February 2025 |