Quality standards for the management of stroke, dementia and venous thromboembolism, as well as for neonatal care, are to be developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence following recommendations from the National Quality Board.

The NICE quality standards will be produced in collaboration with the NHS, social care, partners and service users, and are intended for use by clinicians, patients, service providers and commissioners.

The standards will be a set of specific, concise statements designed to act as markers of high quality, cost-effective care across a pathway or a particular clinical area. Each quality standard will be accompanied by a measurable element or indicator that will allow assessment of quality and quality improvement to be made.

The National Quality Board was established to “champion quality and ensure alignment in quality throughout the NHS” and one of its roles is to advise ministers on the topics for NICE quality standards.

A spokesman for NICE told The Pharmaceutical Journal that the quality standards will cover a broader area than current NICE guidance. The standards will not supersede NICE guidance, but are intended to incorporate recommendations into an over-arching level of care.

The standards will include guidance and recommendations from other organisations that may be outside the scope of current NICE guidance, he added.

The first four pilot standards are expected to be published in early 2010. Before then, NICE plans to consult and field test the statements and consider the cost impact of the standards to the NHS.