Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of trends in geographical variations in the availability of specialist Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome services; and whether his Department monitors disparities in access between Integrated Care Board areas.

The Department recognises that there is variation across integrated care boards (ICBs) in terms of the delivery of services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and that this affects the accessibility of specialist services. ICBs are expected to commission services that meet the needs of their local populations. Where local services are not available, people with symptoms of ME/CFS should see their general practitioner, who will be able to refer them to alternative existing services depending on their clinical needs and symptoms.