Written question asked by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton (Conservative) on Monday, 31 October 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 November 2011. It was answered by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 3 November 2011 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Health Services

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to national commissioning of treatment for patients diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Answer: No decisions have been taken on which specific services will be directly commissioned by the NHS Commissioning Board. The Health and Social Care Bill proposes that the NHS Commissioning Board should take responsibility for commissioning specialised services for people with rare conditions from April 2013. Clinical Commissioning Groups will commission most other services on behalf of patients.Epidemiological data suggests a population prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) of at least 0.2 to 0.4%. This means thatservices for people with CFS/ME are not rare enough to fall within existing specialised commissioning arrangements for rare conditions.

Secondary information