Written question asked by Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 11 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 May 2006. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Monday, 5 June 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Department is taking to ensure effective medical education in the diagnosis and treatment of myalgic (a) encephalomyelitis and (b) encephalopathy.

Answer: Medical schools develop their own undergraduate medical curriculum in the light of recommendations from the General Medical Council’s Education Committee, which has the statutory responsibility to determine the extent of knowledge and skill required for the granting of primary medical qualifications in the United Kingdom (UK). The Department does not provide direction on the content of medical school courses. Medical schools are autonomous bodies and Ministers are precluded by legislation from intervening in their internal affairs, including curriculum content.The content and standard of postgraduate medical training is the responsibility of the postgraduate medical education and training board, which is the competent authority for postgraduate medical training in the UK.

Secondary information