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Written Question

Question Link

Monday 12th May 2014

Asked by: Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department plans to take to improve information and support for GPs regarding ME or chronic fatigue syndrome; and if he will take steps to improve access to specialist services for people with those conditions.

Answered by Norman Lamb

In 2007, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produced the clinical guidance, Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy): Diagnosis and management of CFS/ME in adults and children. This guidance set out best practice on the diagnosis, treatment care and support of children and adults with CFS/ME. Information on CFS/ME diagnosis and treatment can also be accessed via the NHS Evidence and NICE Clinical Knowledge summaries websites.

The content and standard of healthcare professional training is the responsibility of regulators, such as the General Medical Council, which are independent statutory bodies. They have the general function of promoting high standards of education, working with the Royal Colleges, and co-ordinating all stages of education to ensure that students and newly qualified professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes essential for professional practice.

The Government has mandated Health Education England (HEE) to provide national leadership on education, training and workforce development in the National Health Service. HEE is responsible for ensuring that the future workforce has the right numbers, skills, values and behaviours to meet patients' needs today and tomorrow, and will work with stakeholders to influence training curricula as appropriate.

Written Question

Question Link

Monday 12th May 2014

Asked by: Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat - Mid Dorset and North Poole)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve access to social care assessments for people with ME or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Answered by Norman Lamb

The Care Bill will require local authorities to provide information and advice on how to access care and support in their area including assessments.

The Bill will place local authorities under a duty to assess any adult who appears to have needs for care and support, whatever their level of need. The assessment will look at the person's needs and outcomes they want to achieve, and the person must be involved throughout the process. Authorities will have to ensure that anyone who is undertaking an assessment is appropriately trained to do so, and that where the assessor is not experienced in the condition of the person they are assessing, they must consult someone who is.

These measures will ensure that the person needing care has an effective assessment carried out by an appropriately trained assessor.

Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 05 Mar 2014
Adult Autism Strategy

"I was delighted to support my right hon. Friend’s Autism Act, which was an enormous step forward, and I congratulate her on securing this debate, because it is exactly a push for action on what we have achieved so far.

I want to draw my right hon. Friend’s attention to …..."
Annette Brooke - View Speech

View all Annette Brooke (LD - Mid Dorset and North Poole) contributions to the debate on: Adult Autism Strategy
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 25 Feb 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"11. What reports he has received on the possible reclassification of ME/CFS by the World Health Organisation...."
Annette Brooke - View Speech

View all Annette Brooke (LD - Mid Dorset and North Poole) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 25 Feb 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"I thank the Minister for her answer. Many people will be greatly relieved about that. As chair of the all-party group on myalgic encephalomyelitis, I receive many representations about GPs in this country still not necessarily recognising the condition. Will she look into that, and will she work with her …..."
Annette Brooke - View Speech

View all Annette Brooke (LD - Mid Dorset and North Poole) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 14 Jan 2014
Oral Answers to Questions

"T2. Will the Secretary of State join me in congratulating the UK Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalopathy Research Collaborative for providing a mechanism for ME charities, researchers and clinicians to work together in a co-ordinated way? What support will his Department give research into the causes of and treatment for ME?..."
Annette Brooke - View Speech

View all Annette Brooke (LD - Mid Dorset and North Poole) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 18 Dec 2013
Hospices (Children and Young People)

"It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mrs Osborne. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Pudsey (Stuart Andrew) on securing the debate. I certainly like the description of him as the smiling MP. He has much experience to bring to this whole debate.

I should declare …..."
Annette Brooke - View Speech

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Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 18 Dec 2013
Hospices (Children and Young People)

"That was an excellent intervention. How could any of us maintain a good family life under such unrelenting stress? What a difference that respite makes.

A family in my constituency likened the pressure to slowly drowning, in exhaustion. In their words, “The only name on the life raft reads ‘Julia’s …..."
Annette Brooke - View Speech

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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 22 Oct 2013
Oral Answers to Questions

"T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities...."
Annette Brooke - View Speech

View all Annette Brooke (LD - Mid Dorset and North Poole) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 22 Oct 2013
Oral Answers to Questions

"Poole hospital, which is much loved locally and has excellent care ratings, has a financial problem relating to tariffs that must be addressed. The £5 million spent on putting a failed case for a merger between Bournemouth and Poole hospitals to the Competition Commission raises questions about processes and openness …..."
Annette Brooke - View Speech

View all Annette Brooke (LD - Mid Dorset and North Poole) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions