§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1)what access(a) primary care trusts and (b) NHS trusts who failed to secure local multi-disciplinary team status for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis services within their zone have to these services; and if he will make a statement; [186743]
(2) what plans he has to extend specialist services and local multi-disciplinary teams for people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis to other areas; and if he will make a statement. [186746]
§ Dr. LadymanA central budget of £8.5 million for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy (CFS/ME) service; runs from 2004 to 2006 and is intended to pump prime service development and start developing clinical services where none previously exist.
In addition to providing this extra funding, we have also asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to develop guidelines for the diagnosis and management of CFS/ME.
We have invested heavily in improving national health service services. Up to 2003–04, expenditure on the NHS has increased by an average of 6.2 per cent. in real terms each year since this Government came to power. NHS expenditure is set to further increase by an average of 7.2 per cent. in real terms over the five year period 2003–04 to 2007–08. Over three years, this will take the total spent on the NHS in England from £69 billion in 2004–05 to £92 billion in 2007–08.
It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to decide how to use this extra funding to meet the needs of their populations, including those with CFS/ME.
§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much money the Government has invested in the study of myalgic encephalomyelitis since 1997; [186833]
(2) how much money the Government plan to invest in the study of myalgic encephalomyelitis over the next five years. [186835]
§ Dr. LadymanThe information requested is shown in the table.
Actual and forecast expenditure on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis since 1997 £ million Completed research projects 0.3 Current research 4.3 £4.2 million of the current research total has been allocated to two five year Medical Research Council trials announced in 2003.
1359WOver 75 per cent. of the Department's total expenditure on health research is devolved to and managed by national health service organisations. Details of individual projects, including some concerned with myalgic encephalomyelitis, can be found on the national research register at www.dh.gov.uk/research.