On 7 November 2017 heads of UK professional bodies publicly signed and published an evidence declaration, with a further aim to embed the declaration principles within the strategic objectives of their institutions.

The evidence declaration signing was hosted by the Alliance for Useful Evidence and Professor Jonathan Shepherd CBE, Royal College of Surgeons and Cardiff University, and chaired by Lord O'Donnell. The event focused on the sustainability of commitment to the evidence declaration and how to ensure the values proclaimed therein are built into the foundations of these national institutions.

In the document the professional bodies declared that their institutions expect all members to take full account of evidence and evidence informed guidance in their daily decisions and advice to individuals and organisations. It also declared that those institutions expect and will support rigorous evaluation.

Professor Jonathan Shepherd CBE said: 'Professional bodies are major influences on the daily practice of hundreds of thousands of professionals across the UK who are their members and fellows. Through their conditions of membership, training and continuous professional development provision, and policy making, these institutions drive evidence adoption. This evidence declaration signals commitment to building these standards on the foundations of quality assured evidence'.