Guideline Development Groups
A guideline development group (GDG) is a representative group of professional and consumer stakeholders, which balances experience, gender and ethnicity across England and Wales. Potential GDG members from professional organisations, Royal colleges, societies and patient/carer groups should be nominated by their respective bodies. Individual patients or carers can self-nominate via the Patient and Public Involvement Programme (PPIP) at NICE. Commercial organisations cannot nominate GDG members.
Members of the group can be chosen for particular expertise in a clinical area, while others bring technical skills that enhance the guideline development process. However, GDG members do not have to be 'experts' - a group benefits from both professionals, who treat patients on a day-to-day basis in typical NHS circumstances, and patients/carers with experience of the clinical area. All members of a GDG have equal standing.
The principal role of GDG members is to use their skills and knowledge to inform the development of guideline recommendations.