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Written question asked by Baroness Scott of Needham Market (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 14 May 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Friday, 29 May 2026. It was answered by Baroness Merron (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

ME/CFS: Health Services

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government how the template service specification for mild and moderate myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) will address the needs of people with severe and very severe ME; and whether a separate specification will be developed for those groups.

Answer

As part of the development of the template service specification for mild and moderate myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), which was committed to in the final delivery plan on ME/CFS, published in July 2025, officials have engaged with a sub-group of the ME/CFS post-publication stakeholder engagement group. As part of this engagement, officials from the Department, together with NHS England, have made the decision to include reference to severe ME/CFS in that template service specification based on feedback received from this group. It will also include a reminder that integrated care boards are expected to commission services that meet the needs of the local population, including for all levels of severity of ME/CFS.

There are currently no plans to develop a separate specification for severe and very severe ME/CFS.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL135
Session
2026-27
Subjects
ME/CFS Health services
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk