§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions he has had with the Royal College of General Practitioners about recognising ME as a clinical condition by GPs; [25393]
(2) what research his Department has commissioned into the diagnosis and treatment of ME; [25394]
(3) if he will issue guidance to health authorities to ensure that ME is recognised as a clinical condition by GPs and that patients are referred to appropriate specialists. [25395]
§ Jacqui SmithWe have not had specific discussions with the Royal College of General Practitioners about this issue. However the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME independent Working Group's report which was published on 11 January has been placed on the Chief Medical Officer's website so that it can be accessed by all interested parties including general practitioners. The report and the summary for clinicians should result in improved awareness and understanding of this condition.
ME is mainly managed in primary care. The range of symptoms and other conditions associated with it should be investigated and treated by the most appropriate primary, community or secondary care service. Some patients are seen by neurologists, rheumatologists and psychiatrists.
The Department has commissioned research into the diagnosis and treatment of ME/CFS 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 biomedical and health services research on chronic fatigue syndrome.