Countess of Mar receives written answer

8 February 2011

Question
Today the Countess of Mar received an answer to her parliamentary question on whether, in the light of the research by J Newton and others in The Newcastle NHS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Service: not all fatigue is the same (J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2010; 40:304-7), the Government will establish referral networks for fatigue evaluation and management specifically for departments that commonly manage chronic diseases.

Earl Howe, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, responded as follows: We have no plans to establish referral networks for fatigue evaluation and management. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to commission services to meet the needs of their local population living with fatigue, and based on assessment of population need and clinical evidence.