AQW 10773/17-22

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 23/11/2020
Answered On Date: 09/03/2021
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what actions are being taken to follow up on the note of caution issued to all GP surgeries in 2017 about Graded Exercise Therapy for people with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis; and what guidance is currently being given to health professionals.

Answer:

A note of caution on graded exercise therapy for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis was not issued to General Practitioners in 2017 or at any time. Healthcare professionals in Northern Ireland are guided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). The current NICE guidance for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy): diagnosis and management (CG53) was endorsed by my Department in 2008 for implementation in Health and Social Care.

However, on 10 November 2020 NICE published a draft updated guideline for consultation, with an expected final publication date of 21 April 2021. When the updated guidance is issued by NICE, my Department will consider it under the usual process for NICE Clinical Guidelines as per circular HSC (SQSD) 3/13. Until then the current guideline continues to apply.