In ME Awareness Week, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to improve the medical provision for people in Wales who suffer from ME/CFS - myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
Speaking in Tuesday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood said the condition can have a devastating impact on functional ability and quality of life, and called for a Welsh Government Statement on medical provision for people in Wales who suffer from it.
He said:
“This is ME Awareness Week, 9th to 15th May. Now the new National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for ME have been released, it's essential to move ahead with a clear Care Pathway for people living with ME in Wales.
“Campaigners in Wales tell me there might be ‘a service for ME’ within some Health Boards, but, if there is, they don't know where these services are, who they're run by, and what treatments they are using. They now have the assistance of the Medical Adviser for the ME Association, who is willing both to work with them to enable people with ME across Wales to obtain the correct medical understanding and support for their condition, and to attend a meeting with the Welsh Government.
“They add that ‘it Is currently very unclear where or how people with ME can obtain treatment for ME in Wales. It is ‘pot luck’ if one finds a GP who has a good understanding and training regarding the condition, and they have nowhere to send patients on to’. I call for a Statement accordingly, including, hopefully, a response to the offer of a meeting from the ME Association's Medical Adviser.”
The Welsh Government’s Trefnydd (Business Minister), Lesley Griffiths MS, responded:
“I wasn't aware it was ME Awareness Week. We have several 'weeks' and 'months', but I really wasn't aware it was an awareness week for people who suffer from that condition. But I think it's really important that we do have these awareness days, weeks, months, to ensure that people recognise the symptoms and also know where they can go for treatment. Obviously, it's a matter for health boards to ensure that they have the services that are needed for their local population, whatever condition it is.”
Speaking afterwards, Mr Isherwood added:
“The absence from the Minister’s response of any reference to the substantive points I made on behalf of the campaigners was worrying. As the campaigners told me, ‘We have been working on a plan of provision of a way forward for the treatment of ME across Wales. This is being revised now the new NICE guidelines for ME have been published’. Only the Welsh Government can steer the change needed.”