About M.E. / CFS / Fibromyalgia
- About M.E.
- About Fibromyalgia
- Management and Treatment of M.E.
- Children & M.E.
- Research.
- NHS in Worcestershire: NHS ME/CFS Specialist Services (Worcestershire)
- News and Reports from the group,
- NHS Documents,
- NHS Management Pathway.
- NHS in Worcestershire: NHS Post Covid Syndrome Specialist Services (Worcestershire).
- Other.
Video below from nhs.uk
Dr Charles Shepherd, medical adviser to the ME Association, and who has ME, describes the symptoms, diagnosis and treatments for ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome.
Video below via Youtube. Video also on NHS website at bottom of page.
Contact us: by form/by email
Dr Charles Shepherd, medical adviser to the ME Association, and who has ME, describes the symptoms, diagnosis and treatments for ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome.
Video below via Youtube. Video also on NHS website at bottom of page.
Contact us: by form/by email
- WHAT IS M.E. / CFS? An introduction (Worcestershire M.E. Support Group web page)
- The symptoms and diagnosis of ME/CFS - a ME Association article
- WHO ICD classification (Other disorders of the nervous system: G90-G99. G93 = Other disorders of brain. G93.3 = Postviral fatigue syndrome - Benign myalgic encephalomyelitis.
- ME/CFS: A Clinical Case Definition and Guidelines for Medical Practitioners an Overview of the Canadian Consensus Documents (by Bruce M. Carruthers, MD, CM, FRCP(C) and Marjorie I. van de Sande, B Ed, Grad Dip Ed) - on the (Canadian) National ME/FM Action Network site.
- Definition Criteria - Canadian Guidelines (contrasted to Oxford and Fukuda)
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
- NICE guidelines
Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline [NG206] Published: 29 October 2021 - NICE Pathways - mapping our guidance
ME (chronic fatigue syndrome)
- NICE guidelines
- Similarities And Differences - M.E vs CFS vs Fibromyalgia syndrome
- Symptoms of ME/CFS information sheet
- What is M.E./CFS
- Wikipedia article on M.E.
Video below from nhs.uk
Suzanne has fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes pain all over the body. She describes how it affected her and how it can be treated.
Find out how to diagnose fibromyalgia
Video below via Youtube. Video also on NHS website at bottom of page.
Contact us: by form/by email
Suzanne has fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes pain all over the body. She describes how it affected her and how it can be treated.
Find out how to diagnose fibromyalgia
Video below via Youtube. Video also on NHS website at bottom of page.
Contact us: by form/by email
- FMS: A Clinical Case Definition and Guidelines for Medical Practitioners an Overview of the Canadian Consensus Documents (by Bruce M. Carruthers, MD, CM, FRCP(C) & Marjorie I. van de Sande, B Ed, Grad Dip Ed) on the (Canadian) National ME/FM Action Network site.
- Similarities And Differences - M.E vs CFS vs Fibromyalgia syndrome
- NHS Choices Information
- Action for M.E. booklets (pdfs) there is also information online
- Action for M.E. Pacing booklet (pdf)
- Advice To A New Patient
- Guidance on the management of CFS/M.E. (2002) - Based on the Chief Medical Officer's report, this Action for M.E. guide aimed to assist GPs in the assessment and management of patients with CFS/M.E., prior to the publication of more recent NHS guidelines.
- Management Of CFS ME By Prof Pinching
- Fifty Percent Solution
- NHS specialist services throughout the UK for M.E./CFS - see below for Worcestershire & Herefordshire.
- NICE guidance: see 'About M.E.' above
- Pacing for ME and CFS: a guide for patients by Dr Ellen Goudsmit (pdf)
- ME In Young People Silent Epidemic By EG Dowsett
- About the Tymes Trustcard - A "pass card" signed by the child's Head Teacher and carrying the child's photograph. It states that the child has permission to use the school's disabled facilities or obtain other assistance.
The Gibson Inquiry (2006)
The Gibson Inquiry - Dr Richard Taylor, MP for Wyre Forest, (from 2001 to 2010), was Vice chairman of this all-party Group for Scientific Research into ME (GRSME)
Our group were invited to the Oral Hearing on 18 April, 2006. Our presentation document is on the GSRME website.
The Report was published in November 2006.
The Gibson Inquiry - Dr Richard Taylor, MP for Wyre Forest, (from 2001 to 2010), was Vice chairman of this all-party Group for Scientific Research into ME (GRSME)
Our group were invited to the Oral Hearing on 18 April, 2006. Our presentation document is on the GSRME website.
The Report was published in November 2006.
APPG on ME’s Inquiry into NHS Service Provision (2010)
All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ME’s Inquiry into NHS Service Provision for people with ME/CFS was published in March 2010. (The report was prepared by the Countess of Mar, Peter Luff MP in Worcestershire (1992 - 2015), Andrew Stunell MP, Des Turner MP and Tony Wright MP.)
Our Group submitted a response to the APPG on ME's Inquiry in June 2009, and we were invited to attend the Oral Hearing on 9 July.
(More information in the News Archive).
All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ME’s Inquiry into NHS Service Provision for people with ME/CFS was published in March 2010. (The report was prepared by the Countess of Mar, Peter Luff MP in Worcestershire (1992 - 2015), Andrew Stunell MP, Des Turner MP and Tony Wright MP.)
Our Group submitted a response to the APPG on ME's Inquiry in June 2009, and we were invited to attend the Oral Hearing on 9 July.
(More information in the News Archive).
NHS ME/CFS Specialist Services
For a new ME/CFS diagnosis request a referral through your GP. The nearest service to the centre of Worcestershire is at the Barbury, Edgbaston, Birmingham. There is information about the Barbury site location through here or here (with map). Other ME/CFS centres are in Bristol, Bath, Oxford and Brecon as listed on the ME Association website.
After you have received a diagnosis , request a referral through your GP to the Worcestershire ME/CFS Therapy Team who can be contacted through Malvern Community Hospital. (Contact Information: 01684 612671 [email protected] and their webpage NHS Worcestershire ME/CFS Specialist Services).
In April 2022 the Worcestershire M.E. Social Group received a copy of this notification (pdf) stating that the ME/CFS Service run by Infectious Diseases with Consultant input at Worcestershire Acute Hospital had been Decommissioned and they are now unable to take patients for ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia. Our blog Decommissioned - ME/CFS Service at Worcestershire Acute Hospital explains that this letter was sent from Dr Mirella Ling Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, to Worcestershire GPs in April 2021.
For a new ME/CFS diagnosis request a referral through your GP. The nearest service to the centre of Worcestershire is at the Barbury, Edgbaston, Birmingham. There is information about the Barbury site location through here or here (with map). Other ME/CFS centres are in Bristol, Bath, Oxford and Brecon as listed on the ME Association website.
After you have received a diagnosis , request a referral through your GP to the Worcestershire ME/CFS Therapy Team who can be contacted through Malvern Community Hospital. (Contact Information: 01684 612671 [email protected] and their webpage NHS Worcestershire ME/CFS Specialist Services).
In April 2022 the Worcestershire M.E. Social Group received a copy of this notification (pdf) stating that the ME/CFS Service run by Infectious Diseases with Consultant input at Worcestershire Acute Hospital had been Decommissioned and they are now unable to take patients for ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia. Our blog Decommissioned - ME/CFS Service at Worcestershire Acute Hospital explains that this letter was sent from Dr Mirella Ling Consultant Physician in Infectious Diseases, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, to Worcestershire GPs in April 2021.
Worcestershire ME/CFS Service News and Reports
NHS News on the Worcestershire M.E. Support Group website blog
Extracts from group newsletters giving ‘CFS/ME and the NHS in Worcestershire’ reports.
May 2002-April 2003,
June 2003-April 2004,
April 2004-Aug 2004,
April 2005-Jan 2006,
May 2006-Jan 2007,
April 2007-Feb 2008
Group Reports following Herefordshire & Worcestershire CFS/ME Multi-Disciplinary Team (LMDT) meetings.
Oct 2010
Jan 2012
CFS/ME LMDT - speakers at group meeting (November 2013)
NHS News on the Worcestershire M.E. Support Group website blog
Extracts from group newsletters giving ‘CFS/ME and the NHS in Worcestershire’ reports.
May 2002-April 2003,
June 2003-April 2004,
April 2004-Aug 2004,
April 2005-Jan 2006,
May 2006-Jan 2007,
April 2007-Feb 2008
Group Reports following Herefordshire & Worcestershire CFS/ME Multi-Disciplinary Team (LMDT) meetings.
Oct 2010
Jan 2012
CFS/ME LMDT - speakers at group meeting (November 2013)
Documents received from Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-ME Service:
Letter dated November 2013 received after referral by GP.
Leaflet (received November 2013).
Letter dated November 2013 received after referral by GP.
Leaflet (received November 2013).
Management Pathway:
Herefordshire & Worcestershire CFS/ME LMDT’s “Suspected and Management Pathway” (dated October 2010, now Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-ME Service)
Dr Mirella Ling used her “GPs’ talk” powerpoint presentation slides as a background for her talk to our Group in September 2011. (Link to powerpoint viewer.)
Also see our group leaflet.
Herefordshire & Worcestershire CFS/ME LMDT’s “Suspected and Management Pathway” (dated October 2010, now Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome-ME Service)
Dr Mirella Ling used her “GPs’ talk” powerpoint presentation slides as a background for her talk to our Group in September 2011. (Link to powerpoint viewer.)
Also see our group leaflet.
Post Covid Syndrome Service:
What is Post Covid Syndrome?
The length of time it takes to recover from COVID-19 varies from person to person. For some it will be days, for others it may be weeks, months and for some it can be years.
Ongoing symptomatic COVID-19: This is when you have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 lasting from four to 12 weeks
Post COVID-19 syndrome: This is when you have signs and symptoms that develop during or after an infection consistent with COVID‑19, continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis. It usually presents with clusters of symptoms, often overlapping, which can fluctuate and change over time and can affect any system in the body.
Herefordshire & Worcestershire PCS service
Our service provides an assessment and rehabilitation service to support and manage symptoms of Post covid syndrome. The Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) includes:
What is Post Covid Syndrome?
The length of time it takes to recover from COVID-19 varies from person to person. For some it will be days, for others it may be weeks, months and for some it can be years.
Ongoing symptomatic COVID-19: This is when you have signs and symptoms of COVID-19 lasting from four to 12 weeks
Post COVID-19 syndrome: This is when you have signs and symptoms that develop during or after an infection consistent with COVID‑19, continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis. It usually presents with clusters of symptoms, often overlapping, which can fluctuate and change over time and can affect any system in the body.
Herefordshire & Worcestershire PCS service
Our service provides an assessment and rehabilitation service to support and manage symptoms of Post covid syndrome. The Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) includes:
- A GP
- Occupational Therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Psychologist
