Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the action in the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed for people with very severe ME/CFS, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact on patient safety and access to appropriate care of delaying that work until April 2027; whether he will publish any such assessment; and what specific interim measures, funding and monitoring arrangements will be put in place to support patients and hold integrated care boards accountable before that date.

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 in the Department and NHS England are currently actively considering whether a specialised service for very severe ME/CFS should be commissioned by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. A final decision will not be made until after the abolition of NHS England is complete, in April 2027, when processes will be clearer. This is as a result of potential changes to the legislative process which may occur as a result of transformation in NHS England. Officials continue to progress this action as far as possible ahead of April 2027, so that work can continue at pace following the completion of transformation in NHS England. This could include convening the clinical committee ahead of time.