AQW 5926/11-15

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 14/12/2011
Answered On Date: 05/01/2012
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what action his Department is taking to increase GPs understanding of myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Answer:

My Department endorsed National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) in 2008. The guidance provided good practice guidelines for services for patients with ME/ CFS across both primary and secondary care and was issued to the Health and social Care sector.

The Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency have recently set up a Working Group on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME CFS) Services. The Group is currently addressing the need to improve the primary care response to the needs of patients with ME/CFS. One of the priorities which the Group is taking forward is a survey of GP attitudes and awareness about ME/CFS. The Group is also considering the need to ensure that GP and other medical training programmes cover ME/CFS management.