Asked by: Sharon Hodgson (Labour - Washington and Sunderland West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much funding his Department has allocated to ME/CFS for biomedical research in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
We do not hold the information requested on funding for myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) research according to biopsychological, biopsychosocial and biomedical research.
The following table shows information provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on Departmental programme research funding for ME/CFS, per year, since financial year 2010-11. Further information on this research is available through the NIHR Journals Library at the following link:
https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/
Financial Year | £ |
2010-11 | 189,438 |
2011-12 | 381,874 |
2012-13 | 501,461 |
2013-14 | 561,950 |
2014-15 | 426,055 |
2015-16 | 475,676 |
2016-17 | 554,785 |
2017-18 | 464,902 |
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME/CFS; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Chris Ruane (Labour - Vale of Clwyd)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the use of microbiota assessments in the diagnosis of (a) ME/ CFS and (b) fibromyalgia.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including diagnosis for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia. It is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Diagnosing both ME/CFS and fibromyalgia can be difficult as there is no specific diagnostic test that can be used, and the symptoms can vary from person to person. Diagnosis is usually made by taking a medical history, checking symptoms and carrying out a physical examination. Other tests may be used to rule out medical conditions with similar symptoms. The NIHR has funded projects on ME/CFS and fibromyalgia totalling £4.3 million in the last five years (£2.5 million for ME/CFS and £1.8 million for fibromyalgia) some of which relate to educating general practitioners about diagnosis.
Asked by: Lord Field of Birkenhead (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking in response to the resolution of the House of 24 January 2019 on appropriate ME treatment.
Answered by Steve Brine
The Government is investing over £1.7 billion a year in health research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC). Since 2011, the MRC has funded seven research projects totalling £2.62 million, following a call for proposals to help increase the understanding of the mechanisms of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). CFS/ME research remains an area of high strategic importance for the MRC. Applications are encouraged in response to MRC’s Science Boards and Panels under a Cross-Board highlight notice, in place since 2003 and updated in 2011.
On 20 September 2017, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) announced its decision to undertake a full update of the guideline, ‘Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy): Diagnosis and management of CFS/ME in adults and children’, following a review of the latest available evidence on the diagnosis and management of CFS/ME and a public consultation. New guidance is expected in October 2020. More information on this decision can be found at the following link:
In terms of training, the General Medical Council sets out the knowledge, skills and behaviours that new United Kingdom medical graduates must be able to demonstrate and Royal Medical Colleges, such as the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) set the standards for postgraduate medical education in general practice. General practice is where most patients with CFS/ME are likely to be managed, and the condition is identified as a key area of clinical knowledge in the RCGP Applied Knowledge Test (AKT) content guide. The AKT is a summative assessment of the knowledge base that underpins general practice in the United Kingdom within the context of the NHS and is a key part of GPs’ qualifying exams.
Finally, regarding concerns about the wellbeing of children; we recognise that chronic medical conditions, such as ME, can put a strain on the child and their family. Whilst the Department for Education would want to avoid action that would add to the strain, it is right that children’s services should be prepared to assess the needs of children who may be at risk. It is important that the assessment of a child is conducted on a multi-agency basis, and takes account of any medical condition the child may have.
In July 2018, the Department for Education published an updated version of its statutory safeguarding guidance, ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’. This includes guidance on how assessments should be conducted, and sets out new local multi-agency procedures. Health services are one of the core local safeguarding partners.
Asked by: Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat - Carshalton and Wallington)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to allocate additional funding to support biomedical research into the diagnosis and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The National Institute for Health Research welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including myalgic encephalomyelitis; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Robert Halfon (Conservative - Harlow)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to support biomedical research into the diagnosis and treatment of ME.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The National Institute for Health Research welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including myalgic encephalomyelitis; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent funding has been made available for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), on behalf of the Department, funded £1,495,363 of programme research on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), over the last three financial years (up to 2017/18). Further information on this research is available through the NIHR Journals Library at the following link:
https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME/CFS; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much his Department has spent on research into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome over the past five financial years.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The following table shows information provided by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on Departmental programme research funding for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), over each of the last five years. Further information on this research is available through the NIHR Journals Library at the following link:
https://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/programmes/
Financial Year | £ |
2013-14 | 561,950 |
2014-15 | 426,055 |
2015-16 | 475,676 |
2016-17 | 554,785 |
2017-18 | 464,902 |
The NIHR recognises that CFS/ME is a debilitating condition and is speaking with the United Kingdom CFS/ME Research Collaborative and patient representatives about how best to support a joined up approach to high quality research into this complex disorder. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including CFS/ME; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Laurence Robertson (Conservative - Tewkesbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for research into the causes of ME; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) recognises that myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), is a debilitating condition.
Since 2011, the NIHR has provided £3.37 million of programmes funding for projects and training on CFS/ME. Several of the NIHR’s Biomedical Research Centres also carry out research into CFS/ME, with project funding provided by the Medical Research Council and CFS/ME charities.
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Kevin Brennan (Labour - Cardiff West)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2018 to Question 147821, on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, what plans he has and what recent steps he has taken to expand this funding in the future.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) recognises that chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), is a debilitating condition and is speaking with the UK CFS/ME Research Collaborative and patient representatives about how best to support a joined up approach to high quality research into this complex disorder.
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including CFS/ME; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
Asked by: Alison Thewliss (Scottish National Party - Glasgow Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support biomedical research on myalgic encephalomyelitis.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) recognises that myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a debilitating condition. The NIHR is speaking with the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME Research Collaborative and patient representatives about how best we can support a joined up approach to high quality research into this complex disorder.
The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including ME; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.