News in brief: NICE issues commissioning guides
NICE has published its first of five commissioning guides for GPs and PCTs. This first guide is on upper GI endoscopy services, and is founded on NICE clinical guidelines on dyspepsia and referral for suspected cancer. The four further guides to be launched this autumn will focus on anticoagulation therapy services, pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD, assisted-discharge scheme for COPD and diabetes foot care services (www.nice.org.uk).