Officials in the Department and NHS England, together with stakeholders, are currently considering interim measures to support patients with very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This is ahead of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, considering whether a specialised service should be prescribed for very severe ME/CFS.

These measures include referencing severe and very severe ME/CFS in a new template service specification that is being developed for mild and moderate ME/CFS. This template service specification, therefore, aims to provide support for ME/CFS service providers and commissioners to improve care and support for people living with all levels of severity of ME/CFS.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are expected to commission services for people with ME/CFS across all levels of severity, including those with severe and very severe ME/CFS, in line with national standards, service specifications, and clinical access policies set by NHS England. Prioritisation and funding remain at the discretion of ICBs.

Additionally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has developed guidance on the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, including mental health support for people with ME/CFS and their families. NICE guidelines are evidence-based, informed by clinical expertise, and represent best practice. Although NICE guidelines are not mandatory, so ICBs are not routinely monitored on their compliance, healthcare professionals are expected to take them fully into account.

NHS England, with support from the Department, has developed an e-learning programme to support healthcare professionals in the care of people with ME/CFS of all levels of severity. All four sessions of the e-learning programme are now available, with sessions one, two, and three having universal access, whilst the fourth session, which includes support and clinical management of severe ME/CFS, is only available to healthcare professionals. Further information is available on the NHS.UK website. As the e-learning programme is not mandatory, take-up at healthcare professional level is not routinely monitored.

The Medical Schools Council will promote the e-learning programme to all United Kingdom medical schools and will encourage those medical schools to provide undergraduates with direct patient experience of ME/CFS.

Officials in the Department and NHS England, together with stakeholders, are currently considering interim measures to support patients with very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This is ahead of my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, considering whether a specialised service should be prescribed for very severe ME/CFS.

These measures include referencing severe and very severe ME/CFS in a new template service specification that is being developed for mild and moderate ME/CFS. This template service specification, therefore, aims to provide support for ME/CFS service providers and commissioners to improve care and support for people living with all levels of severity of ME/CFS.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are expected to commission services for people with ME/CFS across all levels of severity, including those with severe and very severe ME/CFS, in line with national standards, service specifications, and clinical access policies set by NHS England. Prioritisation and funding remain at the discretion of ICBs.

Additionally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has developed guidance on the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, including mental health support for people with ME/CFS and their families. NICE guidelines are evidence-based, informed by clinical expertise, and represent best practice. Although NICE guidelines are not mandatory, so ICBs are not routinely monitored on their compliance, healthcare professionals are expected to take them fully into account.

NHS England, with support from the Department, has developed an e-learning programme to support healthcare professionals in the care of people with ME/CFS of all levels of severity. All four sessions of the e-learning programme are now available, with sessions one, two, and three having universal access, whilst the fourth session, which includes support and clinical management of severe ME/CFS, is only available to healthcare professionals. Further information is available on the NHS.UK website. As the e-learning programme is not mandatory, take-up at healthcare professional level is not routinely monitored.

The Medical Schools Council will promote the e-learning programme to all United Kingdom medical schools and will encourage those medical schools to provide undergraduates with direct patient experience of ME/CFS.

The commissioning of specialised services for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), is the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs are expected to commission services that meet the needs of their local populations, in line with national standards, service specifications, and clinical access policies set by NHS England. Prioritisation of service provision remains at the discretion of local ICBs, which may result in variations of services across different regions.

The Department, working with NHS England, is developing a national template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS to support commissioners and providers in planning and delivering services. The template is intended as a guide to best practice, rather than a mandatory or prescriptive service model, and is being designed to support local adaptation in line with population need and existing service configurations. This could help to reduce variation between services, although decisions on how to implement the template remains at the discretion of ICBs.

The Government is committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). We recognise the value of collaborating across the life sciences sector to deliver the most impactful research. The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

The Government has outlined its approach to supporting research into ME/CFS in the Final Delivery Plan, published in July 2025. Since this was published, the NIHR and the Medical Research Council (MRC) has hosted a showcase on post-acute infection conditions, bringing together people with lived experience, researchers, clinicians, funders, and the life sciences sector to stimulate further research.

Recently, £4.75 million of Government funding has been invested in SequenceME, which will carry out whole genome sequencing for up to 6,000 patients with ME/CFS. SequenceME brings together the University of Edinburgh, Action for ME, the European Bioinformatics Institute, and Oxford Nanopore Technologies, demonstrating the value of collaboration across the life sciences sector. We hope that this study will build a high-resolution genetic map of ME/CFS, paving the way for better diagnostics, including biomarkers, and future treatments. SequenceME builds on the £3.2 million investment from the NIHR and MRC in DecodeME.

Officials from the Department are engaging directly with a number of stakeholders, including representatives with lived experience of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and representatives from patient groups and charities, in the development of the awareness campaign. These stakeholders are members of the ME/CFS post-publication stakeholder engagement group, formerly the Task and Finish Group. Officials, together with these stakeholders, are considering the most effective options in the design and delivery of this campaign.

The final delivery plan on myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), published in July 2025, contains 44 actions for the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England, other Government departments, and other organisations to implement. Of these commitments, over half have been delivered already, with many more actions progressing well.

Progress on research-related actions will be reported on annually, to the ME/CFS Post-Implementation Stakeholder Engagement Group and officials intend to provide the first of those annual updates on progress against all the actions included in the final delivery plan to stakeholders in the coming months.

To help support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, the Department has worked with NHS England to develop an e-learning programme for healthcare professionals, with the aim of supporting staff to be able to provide better care and improve patient outcomes. All sessions of the e-learning programme are now available at the following link, with sessions one, two, and three having universal access, whilst the final session on managing severe ME/CFS is only available to healthcare professionals:

https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/mecfselearning?nodeId=7288

The Medical Schools Council will promote the e-learning programme to all United Kingdom medical schools and will encourage those medical schools to provide undergraduates with direct patient experience of ME/CFS. Additionally, the Department has taken steps towards developing the awareness campaign that was committed to in the plan.

NHS England, with support from the Department, is developing a template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS, which will aim to support the commissioning, provision and evaluation of services for patients. Following stakeholder feedback, this template now includes reference severe ME/CFS. This template is intended to be published alongside a Language Matters Guide. The impact on National Health Service bodies, outside of NHS England, is expected to be minimal. The decision has been made to delay the action to consider whether a specialised service should be commissioned for very severe ME/CFS until April 2027. Currently, this is the only action that has been delayed.

The Government published the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan in July 2025, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan

The plan focuses on three main areas to improve care and support for those with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. It also sets out a series of actions, which will help address the key challenges and drive forward improvements to outcomes and quality of life for people living with ME/CFS in England.

The Department worked closely with ME/CFS patients, carers, clinicians, charities, research funders and researchers throughout the development of the plan. This engagement has helped to shape new and more ambitious actions that deliver meaningful change for the ME/CFS community.

Due to transformation in NHS England, the decision has been made to delay the action to review a case for a specialised service commission until April 2027. Until this time, integrated care boards (ICBs) should continue to commission appropriate services for patients with very severe ME/CFS as needed. ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of services for all severity levels of ME/CFS. NHS England and the Department are developing a new template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS which will include reference to severe and very severe ME/CFS. Officials, alongside stakeholders, are considering interim measures to support people with very severe ME/CFS.

The Department and NHS England will continue to work with stakeholders across and beyond government and the NHS to progress the agreed actions set out in the plan and to ensure the best possible care for people with ME/CFS.

The Government published the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan in July 2025, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan

The plan focuses on three main areas to improve care and support for those with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. It also sets out a series of actions, which will help address the key challenges and drive forward improvements to outcomes and quality of life for people living with ME/CFS in England.

The Department worked closely with ME/CFS patients, carers, clinicians, charities, research funders and researchers throughout the development of the plan. This engagement has helped to shape new and more ambitious actions that deliver meaningful change for the ME/CFS community.

Due to transformation in NHS England, the decision has been made to delay the action to review a case for a specialised service commission until April 2027. Until this time, integrated care boards (ICBs) should continue to commission appropriate services for patients with very severe ME/CFS as needed. ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of services for all severity levels of ME/CFS. NHS England and the Department are developing a new template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS which will include reference to severe and very severe ME/CFS. Officials, alongside stakeholders, are considering interim measures to support people with very severe ME/CFS.

The Department and NHS England will continue to work with stakeholders across and beyond government and the NHS to progress the agreed actions set out in the plan and to ensure the best possible care for people with ME/CFS.

The Government published the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan in July 2025, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan

The plan focuses on three main areas to improve care and support for those with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. It also sets out a series of actions, which will help address the key challenges and drive forward improvements to outcomes and quality of life for people living with ME/CFS in England.

The Department worked closely with ME/CFS patients, carers, clinicians, charities, research funders and researchers throughout the development of the plan. This engagement has helped to shape new and more ambitious actions that deliver meaningful change for the ME/CFS community.

Due to transformation in NHS England, the decision has been made to delay the action to review a case for a specialised service commission until April 2027. Until this time, integrated care boards (ICBs) should continue to commission appropriate services for patients with very severe ME/CFS as needed. ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of services for all severity levels of ME/CFS. NHS England and the Department are developing a new template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS which will include reference to severe and very severe ME/CFS. Officials, alongside stakeholders, are considering interim measures to support people with very severe ME/CFS.

The Department and NHS England will continue to work with stakeholders across and beyond government and the NHS to progress the agreed actions set out in the plan and to ensure the best possible care for people with ME/CFS.

The Government published the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan in July 2025, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan

The plan focuses on three main areas to improve care and support for those with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. It also sets out a series of actions, which will help address the key challenges and drive forward improvements to outcomes and quality of life for people living with ME/CFS in England.

The Department worked closely with ME/CFS patients, carers, clinicians, charities, research funders and researchers throughout the development of the plan. This engagement has helped to shape new and more ambitious actions that deliver meaningful change for the ME/CFS community.

Due to transformation in NHS England, the decision has been made to delay the action to review a case for a specialised service commission until April 2027. Until this time, integrated care boards (ICBs) should continue to commission appropriate services for patients with very severe ME/CFS as needed. ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of services for all severity levels of ME/CFS. NHS England and the Department are developing a new template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS which will include reference to severe and very severe ME/CFS. Officials, alongside stakeholders, are considering interim measures to support people with very severe ME/CFS.

The Department and NHS England will continue to work with stakeholders across and beyond government and the NHS to progress the agreed actions set out in the plan and to ensure the best possible care for people with ME/CFS.

Officials in the Department and NHS England, together with stakeholders, are currently considering interim measures to support patients with very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Officials have considered the impact of the abolition of NHS England and the changes to integrated care boards (ICBs) on the actions within the final delivery plan on ME/CFS from July 2025.

Officials in the Department and NHS England, together with stakeholders, are currently considering interim measures to support patients with very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Officials have considered the impact of the abolition of NHS England and the changes to integrated care boards (ICBs) on the actions within the final delivery plan on ME/CFS from July 2025.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of specialised services that meet the needs of their local populations. ICBs are expected to commission services in line with National Health Service expectations of care. NHS England supports ICBs through statutory guidance, service specifications, and the Strategic Commissioning Framework, but decisions on commissioning and service configuration ultimately rest with individual ICBs, based on local need. This is also the case for the commissioning of services for all levels of severity of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

The action within July 2025’s final delivery plan on ME/CFS, to consider whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for very severe ME/CFS has been delayed until April 2027.

Officials in the Department and NHS England are currently considering, along with ME/CFS stakeholders, interim measures to support patients with very severe ME/CFS, including referencing severe and very severe ME/CFS in a new template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of specialised services that meet the needs of their local populations. ICBs are expected to commission services in line with National Health Service expectations of care. NHS England supports ICBs through statutory guidance, service specifications, and the Strategic Commissioning Framework, but decisions on commissioning and service configuration ultimately rest with individual ICBs, based on local need. This is also the case for the commissioning of services for all levels of severity of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

The action within July 2025’s final delivery plan on ME/CFS, to consider whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for very severe ME/CFS has been delayed until April 2027.

Officials in the Department and NHS England are currently considering, along with ME/CFS stakeholders, interim measures to support patients with very severe ME/CFS, including referencing severe and very severe ME/CFS in a new template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS.

The action within July 2025’s final delivery plan on myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), to consider whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for very severe ME/CFS has been delayed until April 2027.

Officials in the Department and NHS England are currently considering, alongside ME/CFS stakeholders, interim measures to support patients with very severe ME/CFS.

The action within July 2025’s final delivery plan on myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), to consider whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for very severe ME/CFS has been delayed until April 2027.

Officials in the Department and NHS England are currently considering, alongside ME/CFS stakeholders, interim measures to support patients with very severe ME/CFS.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are expected to commission services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) across all levels of severity, including those with severe and very severe ME/CFS, in line with national standards, service specifications and clinical access policies set by NHS England. Prioritisation and funding remain at the discretion of ICBs.

Officials have begun work to develop a template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS. This template will provide best practice examples to guide the commissioning of services for ME/CFS and will now include reference to severe ME/CFS as an interim support measure.

To help support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, the Department has worked with NHS England to develop an e-learning programme for healthcare professionals. All four sessions of the e‑learning programme are now available, with sessions one, two and three having universal access, while the fourth session, which focuses on the management of severe ME/CFS, is only available to healthcare professionals. The e-learning is available at the following link: https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/mecfselearning?nodeId=7288

The National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Medical Research Council have dedicated £3.2 million to the DecodeME study. This study aims to understand the genetic differences between those who have myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and those who do not, and in doing so increase our understanding of ME/CFS to support the development of diagnostic tests and targeted treatments. Preliminary findings from DecodeME indicate genetic differences in eight areas linked to the immune and nervous systems in people with ME/CFS. This discovery of specific genetic signals may help us understand the biological pathways involved in ME/CFS in the future.

Our ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan, published in July 2025, includes an action for the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

The third and final session in NHS England’s ME/CFS e-learning series, Managing Severe ME/CFS, is now live on the NHS Learning Hub. This session provides practical, evidence-based guidance to support people living with severe and very severe ME/CFS, and has universal access. There is also an additional version of this module, which is only available to healthcare professionals, and includes clinical guidance on severe and very severe ME/CFS.

NHS England has already started its work on co-designing resources, including a ‘template service specification’ for mild/moderate ME/CFS services, to support systems to improve services for mild and moderate ME/CFS. NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have met with a group of key stakeholders to move this work on. This template will now include reference to severe ME/CFS.

Our ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan, published in July 2025, includes an action for the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

The third and final session in NHS England’s ME/CFS e-learning series, Managing Severe ME/CFS, is now live on the NHS Learning Hub. This session provides practical, evidence-based guidance to support people living with severe and very severe ME/CFS, and has universal access. There is also an additional version of this module, which is only available to healthcare professionals, and includes clinical guidance on severe and very severe ME/CFS.

NHS England has already started its work on co-designing resources, including a ‘template service specification’ for mild/moderate ME/CFS services, to support systems to improve services for mild and moderate ME/CFS. NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have met with a group of key stakeholders to move this work on. This template will now include reference to severe ME/CFS.