Written question asked by Anthony Steen (Conservative) on Tuesday, 13 May 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 3 June 2003. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Tuesday, 3 June 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recommendations have been made by the Chief Medical Officer to treat symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis. - Includes figures and ref to 405 c610-1W, 19 May 2003.

Answer: Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recommendations have been made by the Chief Medical Officer to treat symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis. [113797] Jacqui Smith: [holding answer 19 May 2003]: The Chief Medical Officer has made no recommendations for treatment of this condition. We are, however, taking steps to improve services for patients with this condition. I refer the honourable Member to the response I gave him on Monday 19 May, Official Report, columns 610-11W, for information on the research initiatives, which will be looking at the effectiveness of various treatments to improve services for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). I announced funding of £8.5 million on 12 May to develop services for people with CFS/ME. In July, health organisations will be invited to bid for development funds to set up centres of expertise to develop clinical care, support clinical research and expand education and training programmes for health care professionals and to establish satellite community multidisciplinary teams. The first phase of development will commence in April 2004.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 113797; 406 c369-70W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: ME/CFS Health services Finance Health professions Medical treatments Training Research
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk