HL Deb 09 July 2002 vol 637 c83WA
Lord Turnberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is their position on cognitive behaviour therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome as recommended and practised by Professor Simon Wessley and his colleagues. [HL4264]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

It is not for the Department of Health to comment on the practice of individual doctors. There is no one form of treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis. Treatment to relieve the wide variety of symptoms that patients can experience is a matter for individual doctors to decide in consultation with the patient. Cognitive behaviour therapy is known to be helpful to some patients with physical and psychiatric illness to improve quality of life and day-to-day functioning.

Professor Wessley was invited, and accepted, to be a member of the reference group to the CFS/ME Independent Working Group which reported to the Chief Medical Officer in January 2002, and is a respected clinician.