The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the NHS recognise that M.E. can be as disabling as multiple sclerosis (MS), systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, congestive heart failure and other chronic conditions yet understanding and service provision for M.E. lags seriously behind that of other illnesses.
There are 100,000 people with MS in the U.K. and 50,000 with systemic lupus erythematosus but far more – 250,000 people – live with M.E.
What are we calling for?
Recognising the priorities identified by people with M.E. in our 2010 election manifesto, Action for M.E. is calling for an end to inequalities in health provision faced by adults, young people and children with M.E.
We want to see:
- M.E. included in all pre- and post-registration training of healthcare professionals.
- Ring-fenced funding to enable all people with M.E. to access NHS specialist services, including domiciliary visits for the severely affected.
- Every GP enabled to make a timely diagnosis and refer to an appropriate specialist, to provide treatment and management advice tailored to the specific symptoms the person has, via a long-term condition care plan.
- Incorporation into the NHS of those alternative therapies that patients have reported as helpful in alleviating the symptoms of M.E.
- Care of patients with M.E. to be taken into account whenever relevant as medical policy and practice develop, eg. in the Quality and Outcomes Framework for General Practice.
