Appeals panel - Chair | NICE - The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

NICE is seeking to recruit a new chair of our panels that hear appeals against NICE’s proposed recommendations on the use of new drugs, and other technologies for treating patients with very rare diseases and very complex healthcare needs.

For these appointments you will need to be either

• a clinician currently providing healthcare in the NHS or public health service in the UK and holding active registration with an appropriate professional body (including for doctors, a licence to practise), or
• a patient or carer, or member of an organisation that represents patients or carers.

Closing date

Midnight on 7 June 2026.

If you have an access requirement that prevents you from applying online, please contact Lynn Woodward at appeals@nice.org.uk and we can provide MS word versions of the forms to complete.

Appeal panel chairs

• chair formal appeal hearings held in public in which the appellants (usually patient groups, life sciences companies, or groups of clinicians) and members of NICE’s staff and advisory committees set out and respond to questions about their respective positions
• work with NICE’s corporate office and legal advisers to plan the appeal hearing, including the structure and ordering of proceedings
• prepare for and facilitate discussions at appeal panel pre-meetings in preparation for the appeal hearing
• chair the appeal panel’s debrief session and ensure the appeal panel agree a consensus position on each appeal point
• work with the health service member on the panel and legal adviser to prepare the written record of the appeal panel’s decision, for agreement with the full panel
• ensure all appeal panel members actively contribute to the hearing and debrief discussions
• take full account of the evidence in making the appeal panel’s decision
• act in a professional manner, show good manners and be courteous to colleagues and staff at all times, upholding the highest standards of conduct expected in public life and service while serving on the panel
• remain impartial, and be seen to be free from any bias, and be able to command the respect of the panel members and attendees at the appeal
• read and adhere to NICE’s policies on hospitality, declarations of interests and travel and subsistence.

Appeal panel chairs will be paid £700 per day to cover

• The pre-meet, appeal hearing and post-appeal hearing debrief meeting (usually 1-2 days in total per appeal)
• Preparation for the appeal, and post-appeal liaising with the health service representative and legal adviser to finalise the decision write-up (usually up to 3 days in total per appeal).

Each £700 is for an 8-hour block of time, which could be spread over multiple days. This is paid via the NICE payroll and PAYE will be collected.

Chairs who are a GP are eligible to claim the honorarium or locum cover costs for each full day hearing. The cost of the locum cover will be reimbursed up to a maximum of £1000 per day or £500 for half a day.

• For chairs employed by the NHS, the honorarium is paid to the employing organisation, unless the work on the appeal has been undertaken in the individual’s own time and then it will be paid directly to the individual as noted above via the NICE payroll and PAYE will be collected.

NICE recognises that in some circumstances individuals will need to arrange for carers or support workers to accompany them to a meeting, or to take over unpaid caring responsibilities while they are at a meeting – this includes childcare or care of a family member with a disability or other additional needs. The circumstances in which NICE can provide reimbursement for such costs are outlined in the non-staff reimbursement policy.

Time commitment

The time commitment will depend on the number of appeals that are received each year. It is anticipated that panel chairs will be asked to chair 2 or 3 all day appeal hearings a year and no more than five. Our appeal hearings are usually held virtually.

Appeal panel chairs and members are also asked to attend an annual in-person training event at NICE’s offices in Stratford, east London.

Committee meetings in public

Appeal hearings are held in public. See NICE’s information on advisory committee meetings.

Period of appointment

Appointment will be for a period of up to 5 years in the first instance and subject to approval by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. This may potentially be extended for a further term up to ten years in total, subject to mutual agreement and approval by the Secretary of State

Before you consider applying for this role, please ensure you read the conflicts of interest section of the attached applicant information document and refer to NICE’s policy on declaring and managing interests for NICE advisory committees

This advert closes on Sunday 7 Jun 2026