Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with NICE on the timeline for the publication of clinical guidelines on myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for developing its guidelines in line with its established methods and processes. NICE the Department regarding its publication of an updated guideline on chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). NICE now plans to host a roundtable event in October to determine how it can gain support for the guideline to ensure effective implementation.

Services for CFS/ME are commissioned locally by clinical commissioning groups to plan the provision of services subject to local prioritisation and funding. NICE’s existing guideline on CFS/ME provides guidance on diagnosing and managing the condition. Health and care professionals should continue to take this into account until the updated guideline is published.