Help us understand the areas with the greatest potential to improve the quality of care.
Timeline for developing quality standards
These are the key stages for the development of quality standards.
Timings are approximate and may change for some topics.
Week 1
Development starts
Work to develop the quality standard begins.
Topic overview published
The topic overview describes the core elements to be covered. It also lists the key guidance sources that will be used to underpin the quality statements.
Topic engagement: identifying areas for quality improvement
Stakeholders submit comments on their areas for quality improvement. This is open for 2 weeks.
Week 8
First committee meeting
The quality standards advisory committee (QSAC) reviews the submissions from the topic engagement and hears from invited topic experts. The QSAC then prioritises the areas the standard will cover.
This helps us develop quality statements and measures.
Draft quality standard created
We develop the quality statements, based on the priority areas agreed by the committee. A standard typically has 5 statements and each statement has an associated quality measure. The quality standard is drafted for consultation and approved by NICE and the QSAC chair.
Find out how to use quality standards.
Week 22
Consultation open
Stakeholders submit comments on whether the quality statements:
measure quality improvement
are important
will work in practice.
They have 4 weeks to submit their comments.
Week 26
Second committee meeting
The committee meets to consider the consultation comments and agree any necessary changes.
Validation and checking
The standard undergoes internal quality checking, looking at both process and content. It is then edited and prepared for publication.
The quality standard is reviewed by our guidance executive. If approved, it is scheduled for publication.
Week 40
Quality standard publishes
The quality standard is published on our website. Registered stakeholders are notified by email.
Quality standards are reviewed each year and updated as required.
Find out more about how we select and prioritise quality standard topics.
Get involved
There are several ways that you can get involved in the development and promotion of our quality standards:
Your opportunity to contribute to the development of a quality standard.
Apply to become a supporting organisation for a standard that's being developed.
Be part of the group that develops the standards: the Quality Standards Advisory Committee (QSAC).
Further information
For more information about the process used in the development of our quality standards, download the quality standards process guide (Word).