ME Association (MEA) and BBC articles (full articles available from the links.)
The ME Association opposes the Closure of ME/CFS and Long Covid Services in Coventry and Warwickshire
July 7, 2026
 
Coventry and Warwickshire has lost its dedicated services for Myalgic encephalomyelitis / chronic fatigue syndrome and Long COVID. Both the Rugby-based community service and the George Eliot Hospital (GEH) service are now closed.
Since December 2025, the Healthcare team has been engaging with local NHS bodies in an effort to understand and challenge these decisions – initially to prevent closure and subsequently to secure clear answers about how and why they were made.
 
Changes to ME/CFS services in Coventry & Warwickshire
By Karren Winters-Cavalot / July 2, 2026

The specialist ME/CFS service at George Eliot Hospital has closed, and changes have also been made to the Long Covid/ME service in Rugby, with GPs now referring patients directly to secondary care based on their presenting symptoms.
 
The ME Association is concerned that these service changes appear to have taken place without a formal public consultation, despite the impact they may have on people with ME/CFS and those awaiting diagnosis and support.  We have not yet heard back from the MPs, but have been advised that responses can take up to 28 days.
 
If you have been affected by these service changes or have information that may help us better understand the current situation, we’d be pleased to hear from you at [email protected]. Full MEA article.
 
 
The BBC’s long article includes a quote from Dr Charles Shepherd the MEA’s medical advisor, on “What is M.E.”
Charity concerns over changes to ME services
The ME Association said up to 6,000 people in Coventry and Warwickshire could be affected by the changes to ME services
By Alec Blackman, Reporting from West Midlands, Published 13 July 2026

Changes to the services offered to people with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) - also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) - or Long Covid, are worrying, according to a leading charity.
The ME Association said George Eliot Hospital in Nuneaton had closed its service, while those with Long Covid served by University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust (UHCW), were being referred to other care schemes by their local GPs.

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Post Viral Fatigue service

Marina Townend, Service Lead/Specialist Occupational Therapist, of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Post Viral Fatigue service,, has shared her thoughts, about the local situation, and included an update on our local service.
 
Many thanks for contacting me. I haven't got any comments to add at the moment but I am saddened to hear of the closure of the Coventry and Warwick service, and hope this inequality across the ICB will be reconsidered and redressed.  To my surprise, we haven't had a lot of extra out-of-area referrals (yet?) but I am aware that this may be one of the outcomes of the closure. 
 
I've been meaning to contact you to let you know that Tabitha's secondment has ended and we now have a new team lead - Sara Young. Sara was clinical lead therapist in the Post Covid service and also worked in the ME/CFS service for many years before the integration. Tabitha is remaining with the team as an enhanced clinical practitioner (ECP). She will work closely with Dr Lowe, which we hope will help to reduce waiting times for patients, particularly those who don't yet have a diagnosis. 
 
I'm planning to pop into the social group next week  so hope to see you then. 
kind regards, Marina
Marina Townend., Service Lead/ pecialist Occupational Therapist. Post Viral Fatigue service
Malvern Community Hospital | 185 Worcester Road | Malvern | WR14 1EX,, Tel. 01684 612671

For the latest news on the local Post Viral Fatigue Service, see -
 
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Post Viral Fatigue Service - Update (May 2026)
11/5/2026
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Post Viral Fatigue Service for adults with ME/CFS & L/C.
(Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long Covid).
 
Pdf copy of this at end of May 2026 blog.

On 4th August we were re-assured by NEXT that the lift in NEXT Blackpole has been working for the last couple of weeks.

Please join us, at our Afternoon Café Meeting on Wednesday, 12 August, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, in the Next Café, above the Next store at the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8HP.  (There is a lift and escalator in the store, plus plenty of parking, including blue badge spaces near the main entrance.)  

All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, Long Covid, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us whenever it suits you.
 
Future Afternoon Café Meetings will also be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, at the Next Café.  Further information with all 2026 dates listed is available on our Meetings page.

Unfortunately, the Worcestershire meetings are currently only being held in Worcester, but hopefully they will be at further locations in the future.  Venues for previous lunches and afternoon social gatherings are listed on the Worcestershire ME Social Group website, giving an idea of locations where we have previously met.  To have meetings in further locations we need people who are able to attend from the beginning of every meeting.

•  Local News  •  Meetings  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group

Unfortunately this meeting (8 July) has been cancelled due to the lift in Next being out of order.

Please join us, at our Afternoon Café Meeting on Wednesday, 8 July, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, in the Next Café, above the Next store at the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8HP.  (There is a lift and escalator in the store, plus plenty of parking, including blue badge spaces near the main entrance.)  

All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, Long Covid, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us whenever it suits you.
 
Future Afternoon Café Meetings will also be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, at the Next Café.  Further information with all 2026 dates listed is available on our Meetings page.

Unfortunately, the Worcestershire meetings are currently only being held in Worcester, but hopefully they will be at further locations in the future.  Venues for previous lunches and afternoon social gatherings are listed on the Worcestershire ME Social Group website, giving an idea of locations where we have previously met.  To have meetings in further locations we need people who are able to attend from the beginning of every meeting.

•  Local News  •  Meetings  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group

Please join us, at our Afternoon Café Meeting on Wednesday, 10 June, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, in the Next Café, above the Next store at the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8HP.  (There is a lift and escalator in the store, plus plenty of parking, including blue badge spaces near the main entrance.)  

All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, Long Covid, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us whenever it suits you.
 
Future Afternoon Café Meetings will also be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, at the Next Café.  Further information with all 2026 dates listed is available on our Meetings page.

Unfortunately, the Worcestershire meetings are currently only being held in Worcester, but hopefully they will be at further locations in the future.  Venues for previous lunches and afternoon social gatherings are listed on the Worcestershire ME Social Group website, giving an idea of locations where we have previously met.  To have meetings in further locations we need people who are able to attend from the beginning of every meeting.

•  Local News  •  Meetings  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group

During ME Awareness Week, please join us, at our Afternoon Café Meeting on Wednesday, 13 May, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, in the Next Café, above the Next store at the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8HP.  (There is a lift and escalator in the store, plus plenty of parking, including blue badge spaces near the main entrance.)  

All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, Long Covid, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us whenever it suits you.
 
Future Afternoon Café Meetings will also be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, at the Next Café.  Further information with all 2026 dates listed is available on our Meetings page.

Unfortunately, the Worcestershire meetings are currently only being held in Worcester, but hopefully they will be at further locations in the future.  Venues for previous lunches and afternoon social gatherings are listed on the Worcestershire ME Social Group website, giving an idea of locations where we have previously met.  To have meetings in further locations we need people who are able to attend from the beginning of every meeting.

•  Local News  •  Meetings  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group

Please join us, at our Afternoon Café Meeting on Wednesday, 8 April, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, in the Next Café, above the Next store at the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8HP.  (There is a lift and escalator in the store, plus plenty of parking, including blue badge spaces near the main entrance.)  

All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, Long Covid, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us whenever it suits you.
 
Future Afternoon Café Meetings will also be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, at the Next Café.  Further information with all 2026 dates listed is available on our Meetings page.

Unfortunately, the Worcestershire meetings are currently only being held in Worcester, but hopefully they will be at further locations in the future.  Venues for previous lunches and afternoon social gatherings are listed on the Worcestershire ME Social Group website, giving an idea of locations where we have previously met.  To have meetings in further locations we need people who are able to attend from the beginning of every meeting.

•  Local News  •  Meetings  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group

Please join us, at our Afternoon Café Meeting on Wednesday, 11 March, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, in the Next Café, above the Next store at the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8HP.  (There is a lift and escalator in the store, plus plenty of parking, including blue badge spaces near the main entrance.)  
 (*should there be snow on this date it will be cancelled).

All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, Long Covid, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us whenever it suits you.
 
Future Afternoon Café Meetings will also be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, at the Next Café.  Further information with all 2026 dates listed is available on our Meetings page.

Unfortunately, the Worcestershire meetings are currently only being held in Worcester, but hopefully they will be at further locations in the future.  Venues for previous lunches and afternoon social gatherings are listed on the Worcestershire ME Social Group website, giving an idea of locations where we have previously met.  To have meetings in further locations we need people who are able to attend from the beginning of every meeting.

•  Local News  •  Meetings  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group

Please join us, at our Afternoon Café Meeting on Wednesday, 11 February, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, in the Next Café, above the Next store at the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8HP.  (There is a lift and escalator in the store, plus plenty of parking, including blue badge spaces near the main entrance.)  
 (*should there be snow on this date it will be cancelled).

All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, Long Covid, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us whenever it suits you.
 
Future Afternoon Café Meetings will also be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, at the Next Café.  Further information with all 2026 dates listed is available on our Meetings page.

Unfortunately, the Worcestershire meetings are currently only being held in Worcester, but hopefully they will be at further locations in the future.  Venues for previous lunches and afternoon social gatherings are listed on the Worcestershire ME Social Group website, giving an idea of locations where we have previously met.  To have meetings in further locations we need people who are able to attend from the beginning of every meeting.

•  Local News  •  Meetings  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group

Please join us, at our Afternoon Café Meeting on Wednesday, 14 January, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, in the Next Café, above the Next store at the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8HP.  (There is a lift and escalator in the store, plus plenty of parking, including blue badge spaces near the main entrance.)  
 (*should there be snow on this date it will be cancelled).

All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, Long Covid, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us whenever it suits you.
 
Future Afternoon Café Meetings will also be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, at the Next Café.  Further information with all 2026 dates listed is available on our Meetings page.

Unfortunately, the Worcestershire meetings are currently only being held in Worcester, but hopefully they will be at further locations in the future.  Venues for previous lunches and afternoon social gatherings are listed on the Worcestershire ME Social Group website, giving an idea of locations where we have previously met.  To have meetings in further locations we need people who are able to attend from the beginning of every meeting.

•  Local News  •  Meetings  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group

Please join us, at our Afternoon Café Meeting on Wednesday, 10 December, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, in the Next Café, above the Next store at the Elgar Retail Park, Blackpole, Worcester, WR3 8HP.  (There is a lift and escalator in the store, plus plenty of parking, including blue badge spaces near the main entrance.)  
 
All people with M.E., CFS, FMS, Long Covid, and their carers, friends and relatives, are welcome at all Worcestershire M.E. Social Group gatherings - please join us whenever it suits you.
 
Future Afternoon Café Meetings will also be on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm, at the Next Café.  Further information with all 2025 dates listed is available on our Meetings page.

Unfortunately, the Worcestershire meetings are currently only being held in Worcester, but hopefully they will be at further locations in the future.  Venues for previous lunches and afternoon social gatherings are listed on the Worcestershire ME Social Group website, giving an idea of locations where we have previously met.  To have meetings in further locations we need people who are able to attend from the beginning of every meeting.

•  Local News  •  Meetings  •  Worcestershire  •  Worcestershire M.E. Social Group