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Leading an all-party parliamentary inquiry into the state of ME Research in the UK Dr Ian Gibson MP (Norwich) |
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Dr Ian Gibson MP, who is leading an all-party parliamentary inquiry into the state of ME Research in the UK, put written questions to the Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt about her Departments support to people severely affected by ME, and the NHS specialist services for people with ME. They were answered on ME Awareness day (May 12) by Ivan Lewis MP, parliamentary under-secretary at the Department of Health. (1) what support her Department gives to those most severely affected by myalgic encephalomyelitis? (2) what criteria were used to determine which primary care trusts received funding to set up specialist myalgic encephalomyelitis services; and under what terms the funding was granted? (3) what commitment primary care trusts (PCT) have made to continuing to provide funding for specialist myalgic encephalomyelitis services; and what steps her Department plans to take if PCTs do not fulfil that commitment? Mr. Ivan Lewis: Those most severely affected by chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) have access to the full range of health and social services support as outlined in the national service framework for long-term conditions (the NSF). This includes: Joint health and social care plans that change over time and take other needs into account such as housing, transport, benefits, education, careers advice, employment and leisure; Access to a broad range of services including rehabilitation, equipment, accommodation, personal care to help people live as independently as possible at home; and Support to help people to work or take up other vocational opportunities. Applications for funding from the £8.5 million budget to establish new CFS/ME services were assessed by an investment steering group consisting of health professionals, as well as patient and carer representatives. The criteria used by the steering group included strategy and partnership working, the proposed service organisation and staffing structure, as well as the need to ensure an even geographic distribution of centres. National health service organisations are expected to demonstrate that they are making progress towards achieving the level of service quality described in the NSF. The NSF sets out a clear vision of how health and social care organisations can improve the quality, consistency and responsiveness of their services and help improve the lives of people with neurological conditions, including CFS/ME. The Healthcare Commission and the Commission for Social Care Inspection may undertake performance reviews to assess progress on local implementation of the NSF. |