Policy Database help

1. Introduction
2. The policy list
3. Finding a policy

1. Introduction

The UK National Screening Committee's policy database allows everyone to easily search for and view all the screening policy statements.

Each policy is reviewed on a regular basis (usually every 3 years, or earlier if significant new evidence emerges), according to the UK NSC's policy review process.

The database lists policies currently being reviewed as well as those awaiting their next review. If a policy is in review then the documents associated with the review can be downloaded and viewed from its policy page.

2. The policy list

The policy list box from the top of the policy database page is shown below:

This box provides a list of policies that meet the current search criteria.

By default, all the UK NSC's policy will be displayed. Use the vertical scroll bar to move up or down the list.

The information shown for each policy is as follows:

Policy name (click on a name to view the policy)
Type (antenatal, newborn, child or adult)
Last review completed date - the month and year the last review was finished
Next review decision due - the financial year in which the next review will be completed
Decision

An exclamation markto the left of the policy name indicates a new or changed policy. A star shows a policy currently being reviewed.

Click on one of the column headings to sort the policies by that particular field (click on the heading for a second time to reverse the sort order). The current sort order is shown by a small arrow next to the column heading.

There are 4 possible policy decisions:

Systematic population screening programme recommended
Systematic population screening programme not recommended
Systematic population screening programme not recommended, clinical practice guidelines covered by NICE (this is only applicable to antenatal policies; it means that although the UK NSC does not recommend a nationally-managed screening programme, screening does take place as part of routine care)
Systematic population screening programme not recommended, risk management guidance covered by UK NSC (this is relevant to several adult policies where, although screening is not recommended, the UK NSC does recommend a risk management programme)

3. Finding a policy

There are a number of filter and search options you can use to find the policies you're interested in. These are shown below:

Filters

To display only a particular policy type (antenatal, newborn, child or child) click on the appropriate button under the type heading.

To display only policies which are changed or new (shown by an exclamation markto the left of the policy name), only policies which are currently being reviewed by the UK NSC (shown by a star to the left of the policy name) or only policies which are currently being consulted on as part of the review process then select the appropriate button under the status heading.

To display only policies with a particular UK NSC decision, select the appropriate option under the policy decision heading.

Search

To search for a particular policy, type its name into the search box and press go. After you have typed at least 3 letters, a menu will be displayed showing all the policies containing those letters. If you wish, select the one you want and press go to display it.

If you just type in part of a policy name, all policies containing those letters (anywhere in the name) will be displayed. For example, typing 'can' and pressing go would display all the cancer policies.

Note that the general website search, using the search box at the top right of the page, can be used to search for words used within a policy statement.

Removing filter/search options

When you have applied a filter or search, the current search criteria will be displayed above the policy list box. The number of policies you are viewing (out of the total in the database) will be displayed under the box.

To remove these options and return to viewing all policies, click on the view all link under the policy list box.