Update for Primary Care

Offer PrEP to people at high risk of HIV

Our latest draft guideline on reducing sexually transmitted infections recommends that people at the highest risk of catching HIV should be offered Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) routinely. This includes:

• HIV negative men who have condomless sex with other men
• HIV-negative heterosexual men and women having condomless sex with partners who are HIV positive
• HIV-negative trans women who are identified as being at elevated risk of HIV acquisition through condomless sex.

Only specialist sexual health services are authorised to prescribe PrEP in the NHS in England. However, our guideline committee has recommended awareness should be raised among health professionals who work in primary care, community settings and gender identity clinics about which groups of people are eligible for PrEP.

New peanut allergy treatment to benefit children and young people

We’ve recommended Palforzia, a new treatment which can help build up tolerance to peanut, in new draft guidance. It works by gradually increasing the body’s ability to tolerate small amounts of peanut and can help reduce the severity of allergic reactions. When people start taking Palforzia, they need to attend a clinic which is able to treat anaphylaxis. If successful, people will then be able to up their dosing but will still need to attend a clinic each time the dose is raised.

Progress in improving arthritis treatment

Our latest impact report focuses on the treatment of arthritis. The report shows how reductions in the price of some medicines for arthritis have allowed us to recommend expanded access to transformative treatments. The report also highlights progress in reducing the time between referral and starting treatment for people with inflammatory arthritis.

Comment on a consultation

Our current consultations include:

• Reducing sexually transmitted infections
  Submit your comments by Monday 31 January 2022.
• Gout: diagnosis and management
  Submit your comments by Wednesday 2 February 2022.
• Cardiovascular disease: risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification
  Submit your comments by Tuesday 8 February 2022.
• Diabetic retinopathy
  Submit your comments by Tuesday 15 February 2022.
• Social, emotional and mental wellbeing in primary and secondary education
  Submit your comments by Friday 25 February 2022.
• Self harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence
  Submit your comments by Tuesday 1 March 2022.

Join a committee

We’re looking for health and social care professionals, including a pharmacist, GP and practice nurse to join our:

• Highly specialised technologies evaluation committee
  Apply by Tuesday 1 February 2022. 
• Automated Doppler test for diagnosing peripheral arterial disease in people with leg ulceration diagnostics advisory committee
  Apply by Wednesday 2 February 2022.
• Cardiovascular disease - risk assessment and reduction, including lipid modification committee
  Apply by Tuesday 8 February 2022.
• Diabetic retinopathy guideline committee
  Apply by Tuesday 15 February 2022.

Observe a meeting

We’re currently holding all our public meetings virtually. You'll need to register in advance to join. 

Upcoming public meeting:

• Friday 18 February 2022 – Medical technologies advisory committee
  Registration opens Friday 28 January and closes Friday 11 February 2022.
  Agenda and register

Withdrawal of key therapeutic topics

We are withdrawing our medicines optimisation: key therapeutic topics on 9 February 2022.

This decision has been taken after reviewing the wide range of services we currently provide, so that we can focus on delivering the priorities outlined in our 5-year strategy.

If you have any queries, please contact nice@nice.org.uk.