04 November 2008
The deadline for comments on the draft terms of reference for the APPG Inquiry into English NHS service provision is Friday 14 November 2008.
The draft was tabled at the meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on M.E., which was held on 8 October.
A number of those present welcomed the Inquiry and the meeting agreed to accept the draft terms of reference in principle subject to minor amendments.
The Chair, Dr Des Turner, said that any minor amendments should be sent to the Secretariat by mid November – a date now confirmed as the 14th.
He clarified questions regarding the scope of the inquiry: it would not look at research issues as these had already been covered by the Gibson Inquiry; it would look at NHS service provision across England and not focus exclusively on NHS specialist CFS/ME clinics; it would not send inspectors to assess NHS specialist ME clinics.
The Chair is inviting a parliamentary team of MPs and members of the House of Lords to carry out the Inquiry and membership of this group is expected to be announced by the end of the month.
The Inquiry will invite written evidence from people with M.E./CFS and those involved with providing NHS services and, once it has considered the written evidence, it will then invite a number of people to give oral evidence.
Further information will be posted as the processes, procedures and resourcing are finalised.
