Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the NICE document entitled Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management, published on 29 October 2021, what progress has been made on implementing the guidelines in NHS trusts serving Wiltshire; and what monitoring is in place.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning specialist myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), services that meet the needs of their population, subject to local prioritisation and funding. The process of commissioning services should take into account best practice guidance such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guidance on ME/CFS diagnosis and management, published in October 2021.

The NICE’s guidelines provide recommendations on principles of care for people with severe ME/CFS, including hospital care and adopting a multidisciplinary approach involving access to various health and social care professionals based on needs, including diet and nutrition. NICE guidelines are not mandatory, but the Government does expect healthcare commissioners to take the guidelines fully into account when designing services to meet the needs of their local population, and to work towards their implementation over time.

We are developing a final delivery plan for ME/CFS, which we aim to publish soon. The plan will focus on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease throughout England, including in Wiltshire.

Linked to the delivery plan, the Department has also been working with NHS England to develop an e-learning course on ME/CFS for healthcare professionals, with the aim of supporting staff to be able to provide better care and improve patient outcomes, including improving diagnosis.