HC Deb 22 January 2002 vol 378 cc760-2W
Mark Tami

To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) when the report to the Chief Medical Officer on the most effective forms of treatment and management for CFS/ME will be published; [27207]

(2) what plans he has to provide better access to medical support for ME sufferers; [27210]

(3) what his estimate is of the total number of ME sufferers in the United Kingdom; [27211]

(4) how many ME clinics there are in the United Kingdom; and where they are located; [27208]

(5) what support his Department is giving to research into ME. [27209]

Jacqui Smith

The independent chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) working group's report was published on 11 January 2002 and can be downloaded from http://www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/cfsmereport/index.htm.

The report of the independent CFS/ME working group has identified CFS/ME as a specific illness. 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. We shall be bringing this report to the attention of CEs of health authorities, trusts, and primary care trusts so that they can consider its implications when commissioning services.

The Department 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.

The information on the number of ME sufferers in the United Kingdom is not collected centrally. However, the CFS/ME working group report suggests that each strategic health authority should make provision for secondary and tertiary care for people with CFS/ME, based on an estimated annual prevalence rate of approximately 4,000 cases per million population, in the absence of more refined data.

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. General practitioners should usually be able to manage most cases in the community setting, but should be able to refer patients for specialist opinion and advice where appropriate. It is the responsibility of local health authorities to commission services for their local populations including those suffering from CFS/ME. Information on the number of specialist ME clinics in the United Kingdom is not available centrally.

Dr. Julian Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department has taken to increase public knowledge and awareness of ME; [28204]

(2) what arrangements exist between the NHS and health services abroad to exchange information about ME; [28290]

(3) what data are collated by the NHS on the (a) prevalence and (b) treatment of ME; [28290]

(4) if he will make a statement about Government-sponsored research into the (a) causes of and (b) potential cures for ME; [28200]

(5) if he will make it his policy to support research into a possible diagnostic test for ME;[28201]

(6) what assessment he has made of the numbers of (a) adults and (b) children suffering from ME in each of the last 10 years; [28199]

(7) what steps he is taking to ensure that GPs and consultants are advised of new developments in the (a) diagnosis and (b) treatment of patients with ME. [28202]

Jacqui Smith

The chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) independent working group's report has identified CFS/ME as a specific illness. The report was published on 11 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 of this condition.

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. We shall be bringing this report to the attention of chief executives of health authorities, national health service trusts and primary care trusts so that they can consider its implications when commissioning services.

The Department 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.

The information on the number of ME sufferers in the United Kingdom is not collected centrally. However, the CFS/ME independent working group report suggests that each strategic health authority should make provision for secondary and tertiary care for people with CFS/ME, based on an estimated annual prevalence rate of approximately 4,000 cases per million population in the absence of more refined data. This equates to a population prevalence of at least 0.2 per cent.-0.4 per cent. If children only are considered the figure is lower at 0.07 per cent.

We are not aware of any formal arrangements for exchanges between the NHS and health services abroad on CFS/ME. The only exchanges would be through ad hoc meetings and professional networks of relevant experts.

Regarding research into a possible diagnostic test for CFS/ME, we have asked the Medical Research Council to develop a broad strategy for advancing further biomedical and health services research on CFS/ME.