HL Deb 11 February 2002 vol 631 cc125-6WA
Lord Clement-Jones

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How they plan to disseminate the findings and recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer's working group report on their management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis; and what resources they will devote to this task; and [HL2579]

Whether they will commission National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis management; and [HL2580]

What research they or the Medical Research Council will commission following the Chief Medical Officer's working group report on the management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis. [HL2581]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis independent working group's report has identified CFSIME as a specific illness. The report was published on I I January and has been placed on the Chief Medical Officer's website so that it can be accessed by all interested parties including general practitioners and consultants. It is hoped that the report and the summary for clinicians will result in improved awareness and understanding and will lead to improved diagnosis, management and treatment.

The report makes a number of recommendations around recognition and definition of the illness: treatment and care; health service planning; education and awareness; and research. The report has been drawn to the attention of doctors through the Chief Medical Officer's bulletin and nurses via the Chief Nursing Officer's bulletin. We shall also be bringing this report to the attention of chief executives of health authorities, NHS trusts and primary care trusts so that they can consider its implications when commissioning services. Referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to provide a guideline on irnangement and treatment is currently being considered.

The Department of Health has commissioned research into the diagnosis and treatment of CFS/ME and details are available on the National Research Register which can be accessed via the department's research and development website-www.doh.gov.uk/research. The department has asked the Medical Research Council to develop a broad strategy for advancing further biomedical and health services research on CFS/ME.