ME now recognised as a chronic illness

Health professionals have been told to recognise Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis as a chronic illness.

The Government-backed independent working group into the condition, which
published its report in January, also said early recognition of the condition
with a positive diagnosis was the key to improving the outcome.

While it identified GPs as key carers of patients with the condition, it
admitted patients often had difficulties accessing care. There was also a lack
of good research on the condition.

Professor Allen Hutchinson, chairman of the working group, said: "We
have achieved agreement on many aspects of care for people with CFS/ME, even
though some differences of opinion remain over the best ways of managing the
illness."

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The DOH has asked the Medical Research Council to develop a broad strategy
for advancing biomedical and health services research on the condition.

www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/publications.htm