(2) what patient pathway guidance NHS clinicians should follow where clinical guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence are not available;
(3) whether her Department recognises patient pathway guidance developed by NHS clinicians prior to clinical guidelines being developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for specific conditions.
The Department recognises that professional bodies and other relevant organisations continue to have a role in drawing together good practice advice on such issues where they are not the subject of National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance. From time to time we work with specific professional organisations, such as the Royal Colleges, to that end. For example, to support delivery of the 18 week general practitioner referral to treatment target the Department is working with clinical leaders to identify good practice and develop high level symptom based pathways. The Royal Colleges have been invited to nominate clinical leads for each of the high volume specialties to form a clinical advisory group for this work.