Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
(asked on 8th March 2018) - View Source
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to expand access to PACE treatment for people who have Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy): Diagnosis and management of CFS/ME in adults and children, published in 2007, sets outs best practice for clinicians on the diagnosis, treatment, care and support of people with the condition and assists commissioners in planning services for local populations. The guideline recommended cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) as appropriate treatments for mild to moderate CFS/ME, in line with the best available evidence. In 2011, NICE considered the results of the PACE trial, which also looked at CBT and GET, and concluded that they supported its existing recommendations on these treatments.
The NICE guideline acknowledges that there is no one form of treatment to suit every patient and that treatment and care should take into account the personal needs and preferences of the patient. Decisions concerning the approriateness of treatments should be made on a case by case basis, and in dicussion with patients and their familes or carer, if appropriate.
On 20 September 2017, NICE announced its decision to undertake a full update of this guideline, following a review of the latest available evidence on the diagnosis and management of CFS/ME and a public consultation. More information on this decision can be found at the following link: