“NHS Evidence is committed to ensuring that this service continues to provide value to users. The service is being tested by clinicians and other users throughout it’s development to make sure it meets their needs and health and social care professionals are closely involved working with us to design and enhance the functionality of the service.”
- Dr Gill Leng, Chief Operating Officer, NHS Evidence

NICE have launched a new search engine today for health and social care professionals.  It's called NHS Evidence and Minervation have played an important role in turning it from a idea in Lord Darzi's health strategy from late last Summer, to a major new search portal.

NHS Evidence is freely available for everyone at www.evidence.nhs.uk.  It's aimed at clinical and non-clinical staff right across health and social care and by the end of the year it will contain around 300 sources of information to support decisions about treatments and resources.  Everything from NICE guidance, Cochrane reviews, the BNF, the Map of Medicine, PubMed and NHS Evidence Specialist Collections (formerly known as NLH Specialist Libraries).

Our involvement began in February 2009 when we were asked to provide consultancy support for the project; offering evidence-based healthcare, information science and expert clinical advice to the team at NICE.

We were delighted when we were asked to become more involved by running a large scale usability testing study, which took place during March and April.  This involved testing the website with 30 health and social care professionals using our unique approach to usability testing.

Our report has been very well received and our recommendations will shape the future of this groundbreaking project that will sit at the centre of the health service for many years to come.