12 May 2011
Action for M.E. highlights care, research and benefits issues on Scottish radio phone in.
Action for M.E.’s CEO, Sir Peter Spencer joined young blogger Sam McInness, who has M.E. and Glasgow GP Dr Gary Hamilton on BBC Scotland’s Call Kaye show from 10am this morning.
The topic, which centred on whether there is still a stigma attached to M.E., was presented by Shereen Nanjiani as Kaye Adams was away.
Callers who contributed their experiences to the phone-in included carers Lesley, Mark and Kim, and Robert, Christine, Neil and Fiona who have, or have had, M.E.
Sir Peter was able to make a number of points, which may be summarised as:
- often patients are not taken seriously
- many GPs find it difficult to make a diagnosis
- more research is needed to identify a unique biological marker
- NHS Scotland has produced a Good Practice Statement for GPs
- what’s needed now is training in the Good Practice Statement to give all GPs the same basic level of understanding
- it is unacceptable that 20,000 people in Scotland including 4,000 children and young people are at the bottom of the pile when it comes to priorities for care and research
- Westminster has added insult to injury through a benefits reform which discriminates directly against people with fluctuating conditions
- people need to lobby their newly elected MSPs to join the Cross Party Group on M.E., to bring about funding of services recommended in the Scottish Needs Assessment.
You can listen to the programme in full on the BBC Scotland website. The part about M.E. starts quite far in (at about 1:04 on the on-screen timer), after a discussion about last night’s attack on Neil Lennon at Tynecastle.
