Aug. 10 2023
Source Page: Government announces new plan to help those impacted by ME/CFSFound: Government announces new plan to help those impacted by ME/CFS
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of IV fluid interventions on patients with Postural tachycardia syndrome; and if he will take steps to support this treatment at York Hospital.
Answered by Will Quince
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has made no assessment of the potential impact of IV fluid interventions on patients with postural tachycardia syndrome. Therefore, there are no plans to support this treatment at York Hospital.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidance on myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and recommends being aware that people with these conditions may experience orthostatic intolerance, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. It does not make any recommendations on management or treatment; however, it does recommend that people with ME/CFS should maintain fluid intake as part of healthy diet.
Asked by: White, Tess (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - North East Scotland)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people aged 19 or under were prescribed antidepressant medication in (a) 2021 and (b) 2022.
Answered by Todd, Maree - Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people are able to access the right support for their mental health without stigma, including medication where this is the most appropriate intervention.
Prescribing is a clinical decision to be taken by clinicians based on their assessment of the best interests of the patient and following the relevant clinical guidelines.
Public Health Scotland report the total number of children and young people aged 19 or under who were prescribed antidepressant medication in calendar years 2021 and 2022 as follows:
Calendar Year | Number of Patients |
2021 | 19,723 |
2022 | 20,195 |
Source: Public Health Scotland
PHS have provided the following data notes in relation to the figures collated:
1. Data taken from the Prescribing Information System (PIS), which holds information on all prescriptions prescribed in Scotland and dispensed in the community.
2. Patient age is calculated as at 30 th June for each year of data. For example, 30 th June 2021 is used for the 2021 data.
3. Excludes items dispensed in Scotland but prescribed in England/Wales/Northern Ireland.
4. Data is a unique patient count, and each patient is only counted once.
5. Data are based on British National Formulary (BNF) March 2015 section 4.3.
6. Data are based on BNF Hierarchy and not clinical usage.
7. It should be noted that antidepressant drugs are used for indications other than depression (e.g. migraine, chronic pain, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) and a range of other conditions). Therefore, the statistics on these drugs do not relate solely to prescribing for depression
Correspondence Jun. 16 2023
Committee: COVID-19 Recovery CommitteeFound: concerned to hear of the apparent lack of any lessons being learned from other chronic illnesses such as Myalgic
Asked by: Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Labour (Co-op) - Brighton, Kemptown)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for a cross-Government delivery plan on myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department plans to publish a draft delivery plan on ME/CFS shortly. We intend to seek views on the draft plan before publishing a final delivery plan at a later date.
Asked by: Swinney, John (Scottish National Party - Perthshire North)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance continuous professional development (CPD) among clinicians, in relation to awareness of the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
The Scottish Government’s Neurological Care and Support Framework 2020-25 sets out our vision to ensure everyone with a neurological condition, including Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), can access the care and support they need to live well.
Under the Framework we have funded Action for ME and partner organisations to promote and disseminate an online learning module authored by Dr Nina Muirhead, on ME/CFS for GPs and health professionals, which aims to support person-centred care, informed by good practice and current research.
In June 2021, the Scottish Government presented the online learning module to the Scottish Deans Medical Education Group who agreed to review the module with the view of introducing it into the medical schools’ respective curricula.
In addition to Scottish Government activities, we understand that NHS Education for Scotland are currently finalising a Practice Based Small Group Learning CPD module for GPs, Pharmacist and Nurses working in General Practice/Primary Care.
Asked by: Swinney, John (Scottish National Party - Perthshire North)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to enhance medical education in relation to myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in medical schools.
Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-18221 on 5 June 2023. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
Found: People with chronic illness like ME and CFS have been experiencing this for some time and the report
Written Evidence May. 24 2023
Inquiry: Benefit levels in the UKFound: I have a long term disability, that of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, and Fibromyalgia.
Mentions:
1: Paul Maynard (CON - Blackpool North and Cleveleys) Two stick out to me. - Speech Link
2: Paul Maynard (CON - Blackpool North and Cleveleys) To me, that is the key word in this debate: confidence. The hon. - Speech Link
3: Fleur Anderson (LAB - Putney) in my constituency: young people with cancer, people who have myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue - Speech Link
4: Jim Shannon (DUP - Strangford) Thank you very much for giving me the chance to speak today, Sir Robert. - Speech Link