Written question asked by Lord Mawhinney (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 May 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 May 2001. It was answered by Yvette Cooper (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 May 2001 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many ME specialist clinics have outreach mobile units to go to those whose symptoms are so severe as to render them bed or house-bound; if he will list those NHS trusts which provide specialist outpatient clinics for those suffering from ME; if he will list the NHS trusts which provide specialist (a) inpatient and (b) ward facilities for those suffering from ME. - Includes fact that information requested not held centrally.

Answer: Sir Brian Mawhinney: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many ME specialist clinics have outreach mobile units to go to those whose symptoms are so severe as to render them bed or house-bound; [160332] (2) if he will list those NHS trusts which provide specialist outpatient clinics for those suffering from ME; [160329] (3) if he will list the NHS trusts which provide specialist (a) inpatient and (b) ward facilities for those suffering from ME. [160331] Yvette Cooper: The information requested is not held centrally. The National Health Service provides a considerable number of services which people suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) access. These patients are seen within a wide range of hospital specialities including general medicine, neurology and immunology. The CFS/ME working group is developing guidance to improve the quality of care for CFS/ME patients.

Secondary information