An Update on the local NHS ME/CFS situation received on 3 January 2024, from -
Marina Townend, Specialist Occupational Therapist/Team Lead, of the ME(Myalgic Encephalomyelitis),/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and PCS (Post-Covid Syndrome) Services.
2023 saw an expansion of our little team, with many clinicians continuing to work across both branches of the service. Sara Young (OT) is seconded full-time as PCS clinical lead and we recently welcomed Janet Piper, OT, to the ME/CFS service, to cover the secondment. We have also recruited to a Therapy Assistant post (Ceri Howell), and have colleagues Nikki Mills (Physiotherapy) and Louise Anderson (OT) working via the NHS bank with patients with Long Covid. Although we have still been unable to secure medical input for the ME/CFS service, Dr Matthew George is our lead GP for the PCS side of things. Kate Jewell and Kirsti Barnes continue to do a great job as our administrators, and Mya Krishnan and Helen Ayres are the team's Psychologists. I remain Team Lead across both PCS and ME/CFS.
Following the service level agreement with Birmingham and Solihull ME/CFS service, Dr Silva has now seen the 50 patients for which he was contracted. We are currently asking GP's to refer patients who do not have a confirmed diagnosis of ME/CFS to other services for assessment, and we then offer support and treatment. As before, this situation is not ideal but it allows us to provide a service more locally for people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and we continue to work with our commissioners and the Trust board to try to find a better solution. We still receive a steady stream of referrals that meet our service criteria.
Feedback from patients in the PCS service, including those who attend the Ways to Wellbeing programme, suggests the immense value of peer support and this year, we will be working with people who have Long Covid to facilitate a peer support group. A lot of people have shown an interest in getting involved, which is great as the load can be shared and it allows for flare ups and relapses when they occur.
Some of those who attend the ME/CFS Recovery and Management group also expressed a desire to be able to connect more easily with their peers outside of the bi-monthly group sessions. A small working party have been looking at additional ways to meet and share (on-line and in person), and plan to pilot something later this year. The hope is that this will increase the number and variety of opportunities for connection, and add to what is already on offer - e.g. the Worcestershire M.E. Social Group meetings.
Our many thanks to Marina, for updating us with the situation at the ME(Myalgic Encephalomyelitis),/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and PCS (Post-Covid Syndrome) Services., and for joining us at a few of the Worcestershire M.E. Social Group meetings during 2023. Marina, and members of the NHS team are welcome at future meetings.
For further information concerning the NHS ME/CFS Specialist Services (Worcestershire), and how to obtain a new ME/CFS diagnosis see NHS ME/CFS Specialist Services.
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).
• Hereford • Local News • N.H.S.
• Worcestershire • Worcestershire M.E. Social Group
Marina Townend, Specialist Occupational Therapist/Team Lead, of the ME(Myalgic Encephalomyelitis),/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and PCS (Post-Covid Syndrome) Services.
2023 saw an expansion of our little team, with many clinicians continuing to work across both branches of the service. Sara Young (OT) is seconded full-time as PCS clinical lead and we recently welcomed Janet Piper, OT, to the ME/CFS service, to cover the secondment. We have also recruited to a Therapy Assistant post (Ceri Howell), and have colleagues Nikki Mills (Physiotherapy) and Louise Anderson (OT) working via the NHS bank with patients with Long Covid. Although we have still been unable to secure medical input for the ME/CFS service, Dr Matthew George is our lead GP for the PCS side of things. Kate Jewell and Kirsti Barnes continue to do a great job as our administrators, and Mya Krishnan and Helen Ayres are the team's Psychologists. I remain Team Lead across both PCS and ME/CFS.
Following the service level agreement with Birmingham and Solihull ME/CFS service, Dr Silva has now seen the 50 patients for which he was contracted. We are currently asking GP's to refer patients who do not have a confirmed diagnosis of ME/CFS to other services for assessment, and we then offer support and treatment. As before, this situation is not ideal but it allows us to provide a service more locally for people in Herefordshire and Worcestershire, and we continue to work with our commissioners and the Trust board to try to find a better solution. We still receive a steady stream of referrals that meet our service criteria.
Feedback from patients in the PCS service, including those who attend the Ways to Wellbeing programme, suggests the immense value of peer support and this year, we will be working with people who have Long Covid to facilitate a peer support group. A lot of people have shown an interest in getting involved, which is great as the load can be shared and it allows for flare ups and relapses when they occur.
Some of those who attend the ME/CFS Recovery and Management group also expressed a desire to be able to connect more easily with their peers outside of the bi-monthly group sessions. A small working party have been looking at additional ways to meet and share (on-line and in person), and plan to pilot something later this year. The hope is that this will increase the number and variety of opportunities for connection, and add to what is already on offer - e.g. the Worcestershire M.E. Social Group meetings.
Our many thanks to Marina, for updating us with the situation at the ME(Myalgic Encephalomyelitis),/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and PCS (Post-Covid Syndrome) Services., and for joining us at a few of the Worcestershire M.E. Social Group meetings during 2023. Marina, and members of the NHS team are welcome at future meetings.
For further information concerning the NHS ME/CFS Specialist Services (Worcestershire), and how to obtain a new ME/CFS diagnosis see NHS ME/CFS Specialist Services.
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).
• Hereford • Local News • N.H.S.
• Worcestershire • Worcestershire M.E. Social Group
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