This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Report on handling of chronic fatigue and ME
07/02/2003
A report setting out ways in which improvements in the
care of patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(CFS) or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) are cared for is
published today.
A short life working group was set up by the Executive
in January 2002 to consider the findings of an independent
expert CFS/ME Working Group Report, which reported to
English Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson.
The key recommendations of the Short Life Group are:
- Local health needs assessment should form part of
ongoing NHS Board programmes
- NHS Boards should develop plans, suitable for their
local area, on how services for CFS/ME patients might
be developed over the next two to three years
- A tiered approach to service development,
specialist local support, and where necessary, the
ability to refer complex cases to more specialist
services
- Care management should be patient centred, and
delivered locally by multi-agency teams. Care and
management plans should be negotiated with the patient
and carer and should involve partner agencies
- Provision for educating and training of all
professionals, and the development of necessary skills
for treating the disorder. Professional supervision is
essential to maintain the quality of care
Deputy Health Minister Frank McAveety said:
"CFS/ME is a complex condition, not yet fully understood
by scientists and medical professionals. We do not yet know
what causes it and diagnosis can be difficult, often
requiring the elimination of other conditions with similar
symptoms. It can be a debilitating condition, causing
considerable pain for those who live with it.
"There are no easy solutions to this condition, but this
report, and that of the English Expert Group, should go a
long way to increasing awareness of the problems that it
can cause.
"I would like to welcome the short life working group's
report, which has put the problem into a Scottish context,
and I would particularly like to congratulate the chair of
the group, Dr Harden Carter and the members, who have
produced a document that the health service and other
agencies can put to practical use.
"I hope that NHS Boards and Trusts across Scotland will
consider the recommendations of the report with particular
regard to developing plans to improve CFS/ME care. It is
important that the best use is made of all the information
available about this condition. Whilst there are still many
unresolved questions about CFS and ME, this report must be
seen as a step in the right direction."
Chief Medical Officer Mac Armstrong said:
"I believe that NHS Boards in Scotland, and the agencies
with whom they work in partnership, will find the report
gives a base on which they can develop local services which
meet people's needs.
"It is clear that this is a disorder which can be
recognised, where a diagnosis can be given, and a range of
interventions agreed upon, with a clear expectation of an
improved outcome for most patients, and support for
all."
ME is a condition characterised by extreme disabling
fatigue, which has lasted for at least six months, is made
worse by physical or mental exertion, is not resolved by
bed rest and cannot be attributed to other disorders. Since
the cause of the disease is unknown, treatment is limited
to relieving the symptoms, which may include muscle and
joint pain, poor co-ordination, slight fever, depression,
inability to concentrate and general malaise.
The short life working group was set up to examine the
report of the English Expert Working Group on CFS/ME, which
concluded that healthcare professionals should recognise ME
as a chronic illness. It was published in January 2002.