The BDA is invited to respond to a wide range of consultations from external organisations, including the government departments Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) to name a few.
It is important that the BDA responds to consultations that are of relevance to the profession to ensure that our views are heard, but also to raise our profile and to seek further involvement and opportunities to be involved on issues of particular importance to the profession.
Look out for consultations in your area of expertise by signing up to specialist interest groups as well as opportunities advertised in Member's Monthly and the research ezine. We greatly appreciate members’ comments and input into any BDA response. If you identify a consultation that you feel is relevant and would like support with responding, please contact us.
Policy
Policy consultations can be on a wide range of issues, from the very grand to the very specific. This might be from government departments, arms length bodies or even parliamentary committees. These consultations can have impact on national level policy and are an important way to raise the profile of dietetics.
Policy consultations are managed in several ways:
- BDA responds centrally and collates comments from the whole membership
- BDA Specialist groups are notified of new consultations relevant to their field and would decide if a response was required
- A member of the profession with expert knowledge would be identified to take the lead on the response
- A BDA board is identified to take the lead on the response
Look out for current and recently completed policy consultations on our policy consultation pages.
For any further information, to notify us of a policy consultation you think we've missed or to provide any comments on a consultation, please email [email protected]
National Institute of Health & Care Excellence
The National Institute of Health & Care Excellence (NICE) develop evidenced-based national guidance and advice for healthcare professionals on health and social care topics. The BDA are a stakeholder for many NICE guidelines and quality standards, therefore, are invited to support and or respond to all stages of their development. These offer great CPD opportunities for members - allowing them to influence NICE guidelines with their knowledge and experience. Here are some useful links in you are interested in responding to NICE consultations:
- Process for NICE quality standards and guidelines
- Becoming a committee panel member for NICE
- Dietetics Today article on responding to NICE consultations
- Dietetics Today article on becoming a NICE committee panel member
- Dietetics Today article on attending a NICE guideline workshop
If you would like to find out more about opportunities to support this work, please email us.
Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network
The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) develop evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland.
SIGN consultations are open to all. This provides an opportunity for health care professionals, patients, health service managers, and other interested groups to comment on the draft recommendations and to influence the final form of the guideline. For further information visit their website.
Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition
We are in a global partnership with Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition (PEN). Therefore we are asked to author, and peer review PEN content from a UK perspective. In addition to considering a UK perspective, peer reviewers are asked to review the accuracy, clarify and usefulness from a practitioner perspective. You may find the following links useful:
-
Dietetics Today article on being a peer reviewer for PEN
- Author and reviewer resources on the PEN website which includes templates and training modules
For PEN peer review opportunities, please see their website.
If you would like to support with writing or updating PEN content, please contact us ([email protected]) and include the following information:
• Your name and contact details
• Your primary area of expertise
• Any experience of writing/reviewing
• An indication of your engagement with and (or) interest in evidence-based practice and critical appraisal
We will then add you to our BDA reviewers forum.
How can I become a contributor to PEN and NICE?
This webinar demystifies some of the processes involved in contributing to and reviewing for PEN and NICE. It will provide you with some ‘how to’ information and tell you where to look for callouts so that you/your team can contribute to and help build our Dietetic evidence base.
FAQs
I have responded to NICE consultations in the past. How can I get involved in the upcoming research project led by UCLan team in partnership with the BDA Evidence Based Practice Advisory Group?
Please email [email protected] if you would like to be involved, who will then share the survey with you once this is ethically approved and live.
How do I find out what evidence-based practice opportunities are available?
You can join the BDA reviewers forum which is a platform for members supporting with NICE, SIGN and PEN to provide support to each other. We also share new review opportunities on the forum page. To join, email [email protected]. You will also find opportunities advertised in the BDA research ezine (eNewsletter) sent out to all members monthly.
Are there any resources to support me in responding to NICE consultations or contributing to PEN content?
Yes, the webinar above provides helpful tips and there is also further information under the relevant headings on this webpage. If you would like to practise critiquing research, you may wish to join the #RDJC Nutrition and Dietetics Journal Club Facebook group which was set up by a group of dietitians to “provide a platform where Dietitians and Nutritionists with an interest in research can connect and debate the ins and outs, pros and cons and scientific & clinical value of recent journal articles”.