§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department has taken subsequent to the publication in October 1996 of the report on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by a joint working group of the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Psychiatrists and General Practitioners; and if he will make a statement. [45472]
§ Ms JowellThe Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health wrote to all general practitioners in his quarterly newsletter in February of last year drawing their attention to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)/myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), and specifically referring to the338W report published by the Medical Royal Colleges in 1996 and the report from the national task force on CFS, Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome and ME which was produced in 1994. It was intended that drawing attention to both reports in this way would provide a broad base of information to which GPs could refer for help in regard to the treatment and care of people who suffer from CFS/ME.