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Dept of Health

Answer

Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what access (a) primary care trusts and (b) NHS trusts who failed to secure local multi-disciplinary team status for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis services within their zone have to these services; and if he will make a statement; [186743] (2) what plans he has to extend specialist services and local multi-disciplinary teams for people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis to other areas; and if he will make a statement. [186746] Dr. Ladyman: A central budget of £8.5 million for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy (CFS/ME) services runs from 2004 to 2006 and is intended to pump prime service development and start developing clinical services where none previously exist. In addition to providing this extra funding, we have also asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to develop guidelines for the diagnosis and management of CFS/ME. We have invested heavily in improving national health service services. Up to 2003-04, expenditure on the NHS has increased by an average of 6.2 per cent. in real terms each year since this Government came to power. NHS expenditure is set to further increase by an average of 7.2 per cent. in real terms over the five year period 2003-04 to 2007-08. Over three years, this will take the total spent on the NHS in England from £69 billion in 2004-05 to £92 billion in 2007-08. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to decide how to use this extra funding to meet the needs of their populations, including those with CFS/ME.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

424 c1349-50W;424 c1358W; 186743;186746

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Access ME/CFS Health services Finance Primary care trusts NHS trusts

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk