Fibromyalgia

(asked on 10th October 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will review the clinical guidelines on the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome to ensure clearer treatment pathways for people with that syndrome.


Answered by
Steve Brine Portrait
Steve Brine
This question was answered on 15th October 2018

The Department is not directly responsible for developing or reviewing clinical guidance for identification and management of diseases and disorders. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence was established by the Government to develop evidence based best practice for the National Health Service. Other organisations, such as the clinical Royal Colleges, and charitable organisations also convene expert groups to develop guidance for health professionals.

A range of support exists to help general practitioners (GPs) identify and manage fibromyalgia in primary care. This includes an e-learning course developed by the Royal College of GPs and Arthritis Research UK on musculoskeletal care, including fibromyalgia, and a medical guide developed by the Fibromyalgia Association UK (FMUK) for health professionals.

People with fibromyalgia can usually be managed through routine access to primary or second care provide via a GP or consultant. Treatment will depend on the severity of a patient’s condition, but may include pain relieving medication; physiotherapy; dietary and exercise advice; counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy. For patients whose pain cannot be adequately controlled by routine access to NHS services, a referral may be made to a specialist pain service or specialist fibromyalgia clinic, such the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath, subject to their having met certain criteria.

Information for the public can be found on the NHS website and is also available in a patient’s information guide produced by FMUK. The medical guide, patient information booklet and NHS choice webpage on fibromyalgia can be found at the following links:


www.fmauk.org/dmdocuments/Medical%20Pack.pdf


www.fmauk.org/information-packs-mainmenu-58/booklet-mainmenu-135/490-patient-booklet


www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibromyalgia/

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