Colin Barton

Hove MP, Celia Barlow has written to the Primary Care Trusts of Sussex asking what plans they have to financially support the development of NHS services for ME in the county.
 
The specialist service based in Burgess Hill that was established in 2005 has dealt with approaching 2,000 referrals and has been rated highly in a recent survey conducted by the Sussex ME/CFS Society amongst those that have attended the clinics, but urgently needs to expand.
 
The service that operates at three sites across the county comprises of specialist doctors and therapists that provide confirmation diagnosis, symptom control advice for GPs and appropriate management plans for patients that can often be helped by pacing - remaining as active as possible but avoiding the relapses resulting from over-exertion - and other approaches.
 
Colin Barton of the ME Society said:
“The NHS team are doing an admirable job with the limited resources and tools at their disposal but further funding is urgently required for the service to expand enabling a waiting list of patients in need of diagnosis and care to be dealt with.”
 
Dr Michael Broughton, lead clinician at the Sussex-wide CFS/ME Service while commenting on the survey finding said:  
“The preliminary results of this comprehensive survey support the view that a wide variety of approaches can be very helpful in managing CFS/ME.

"It is particularly pleasing to see how the concept of pacing seems to help such a large number of patients.

"The NHS Sussex CFS/ME Team supports an evidence-based, holistic approach in managing this illness and we are pleased that the survey reveals a good level of patient satisfaction with our service.

"We are constantly striving to improve results and reduce waiting times for treatment and there has been major progress since April 2005 when we first opened and were inundated with referrals.

"It remains disappointing that although we have had excellent support from Brighton, other Primary Care Trusts have yet to fully commit to proper funding of the service.“

For more information view: www.measussex.org.uk