Sheffield NHS Trust guideline for nurses

18 March 2011

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have worked with a patient with M.E. to produce a guideline on diagnosis and referral for nurses.

An email circulated by Anne Nichol, Service manager / Lead Occupational Therapist, CFS/M.E. service for South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire, says:

"Nursing guidelines for the management of patients with CFS/M.E. have been developed in Sheffield as a result of the hard work of Clare Elderkin who is recovering from being severely affected by CFS/M.E. Clare describes two hospital inpatient stays where she felt her treatment was compromised due to a lack of understanding and prejudice about the condition. She felt her symptoms deteriorated significantly during both occasions. Fortunately the hospital complaints department responded positively to Clare’s concerns and as a result have produced the guidelines which are currently available on Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust intranet."