HC Deb 15 March 1999 vol 327 cc557-8W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of (i) the availability of services within the NHS for sufferers of ME/CFS and (ii) the adequacy of the present arrangements for commissioning social services. [76475]

Mr. Hutton

The National Health Service provides a considerable number of services to which people suffering from Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) have access, and such patients are seen within a wide range of hospital specialties. The recently established CFS/ME Working Group will produce guidance aimed at improving the quality of this care and treatment. We have consistently emphasised the importance of close partnership between the NHS and local authorities to plan and commission services and have set in hand a number of initiatives, including legislative change, to strengthen this.