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Taking a look at just one cut that was mentioned in “Health Chiefs set to review ‘low Priority’ treatments. (Richard Osley and Richard Stein.)

CFS/ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic encephalomyelitis) is a controversial diagnosis, discussed in the House of Lords, linked with Gulf War Syndrome and shell shock. Just recently a mother was accused of murdering her own daughter who had been bedridden and unable to feed herself because she suffered from ME. There are 250,000 people in the country that have been diagnosed.

Cutting access to the CFS/ME clinic would be irresponsible, cruel and would inevitably put more strain on The National Health and Social Services. In this instance, the managers of The North Central London Commissioning Team should consult patients and charitable organisations. Ignorance is no defence.

The CFS/ME clinic was set up in 2003, seeing and diagnosing 600 people in the first year. The diagnosis of CFS/ME is classified as a neurological condition, inflammation of the spinal cord and the brain, however 75% of
people with CFS/ME also have muscular skeletal symptoms, predominantly Lower Back Pain. The muscular/skeletal diagnosis of FMS is widely known to have overlapping symptoms of CFS/ME. One million people in this country have this diagnosis, 98% are women. On average they waited 7 years for a diagnosis.

As a mother of a baby and a four year old, I suffered in torturous isolation without the diagnosis of CFS/ME/FM for 5 years. No diagnosis, no treatment. The diagnosis alone was a valuable tool and gateway into gaining information from charitable organisations, alternative medicine and the private mainstream services of neurological physiotherapy.

Clinicians are aware that CFS/ME and FM (Fibromyalgia) can be both progressive and acute. The
CFS/ME clinic hopefully can catch those people who are chronically fatigued and in muscular/skeletal pain, (non medical conditions) prior to full onset of these paralysing (medical) conditions.

Withdrawing this service would not only increase incapacity and disability but also
add to the waiting lists of rheumatology, endocrinology, pain management, ENT, gastroenterology, dermatology, CBT and increase demand for GP’s services. GP’s suspecting this diagnosis are advised to prescribe Anti Depressants, this will be the “medical attention” that will be “dispensed”.

We were progressing to a more civilised understanding of interaction between the body and the mind, cutting this service would be a retrogressive and irresponsible action. The World Health Organisation should be informed of The North Central London Commissioning Teams intentions.

Jane Barratt
Courthope Road
Former Steering Committee Member of LINK’s.