13 December 2011
A summary of recent M.E. related stories in the news. Headlines appearing in the media as dated.
1 in 100 pupils misses school due to M.E.
A study published in the online journal BMJ Open has found that one in 100 secondary school pupils could be missing classes because of M.E. Dr Esther Crawley, University of Bristol, said, "This project suggests that undiagnosed CFS/M.E. may be an important and under-appreciated cause of school absence in children aged 11-16 years." Action for M.E. welcomed the findings and agreed that prevalence of the illness in children and young people may be much higher than previously thought.
The Guardian, p 14 and online
13/12/11
As above
BBC News, online
13/12/11
As above
Daily Mail, p 30 and online
13/12/11
As above
The Daily Telegraph, p 10
13/12/11
As above
Daily Express, p 38
13/12/11
As above
Bristol Evening Post, p 4
13/12/11
As above
Nuneaton Telegraph, p 15
13/12/11
As above
Yorkshire Post, p 7
13/12/11
As above
Leicester Mercury, p 10
13/12/11
Sir Peter welcomes NUJ statement
In a letter to the editor, Sir Peter Spencer, Action for M.E. welcomes the statement issued by the National Union of Journalists’ Disabled Members Council which urges journalists to " support and sustain fair and balanced reporting of matters relating to disabled people." This follows publication of a select committee report earlier in the year that said coverage of welfare benefits claimants is "often irresponsible and inaccurate."
Wolverhampton Chronicle, p 8
08/12/11
CFS on the Food Hospital tonight
Experts look at the effect of diet on conditions including metabolic syndrome, cancer and CFS on tonight’s edition of the Food Hospital on Channel 4, 8pm.
The Glasgow Herald, p 17
13/12/11
Picked to be an Olympic torchbearer
Elodie Lafosse, 17, is one of three winners picked from thousands in the Coca-Cola Future Flames competition who will become an Olympic torchbearer. Elodie, who has CFS, impressed the judges with her entry, which described her passion for teaching disabled children how to dance.
Essex County Standard, online
12/12/11
Coping with M.E.
Fee Wood talks about coping with her transgender transition and having M.E. “I was seen by a doctor who didn’t believe M.E. existed. It was assumed that it was all in your mind but I had a viral infection. That’s when my treatment stopped.” Fee transferred doctors but because of the constant upheaval and her illness, she still hasn’t had surgery to complete her physical alteration.”
Stoke-on-Trent Sentinel (Sentinel Magazine), p28-30
10/12/11
As above
Argyllshire Advertiser, p 6
09/12/11
Keeping an M.E. diary
In a letter to the editor, Dr John Greensmith, M.E. Community Trust, invites readers with M.E. to “keep a diary in a uniform way, to attempt to better understand the cause, onset, progression and possible outcomes, using the benefit of a much bigger population for statistical analysis and mutual support. Safety and confidentiality is ensured by each diarist assuming an alias and saving data to their own computer.” They are invited to send an email from their assumed name with 'My M.E. diary 2012 trial' in the subject line.
South Wales Echo, online
07/12/11
Phenomenon of near-death experience
Dr Sam Parnia, Director of Resuscitation Research, State University of New York,says doctors need to take the phenomenon of near-death experience seriously. "In the past, people who had psychological disorders or chronic fatigue syndrome were told that it was 'all in their mind'. These patients, as with those who have had a near-death experience, rely on physicians to help them understand and process what they have been through. It is important the physicians are not reflecting their own preconceptions and biases."
Daily Express, p 34-35 and online
13/12/11
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The information contained within each press summary is provided for your personal information only. It does not necessarily reflect the views of Action for M.E.
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