NICE releases details of ME/CFS roundtable meeting on 18 October.
NICE guideline on the Diagnosis and Management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (or Encephalopathy)/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) was paused on 18 August.
Ahead of the roundtable meeting on 18 October, NICE has today (12 October 2021) released details of the agenda and how the meeting will be run.
12 October 2021
Publication of the NICE guideline on the diagnosis and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) was paused after several professional organisations contacted NICE to say they had serious concerns about some aspects of the guideline.
NICE has invited representatives from a range of patient and professional organisations to discuss the concerns that were raised.
The discussion will be chaired by Dame Carol Black, who is independent from NICE and from the guideline development process. She will chair the discussion only and no decisions will be made at the meeting.
Following the meeting, minutes will be available and NICE aims to reach a swift decision on the future publication of the guideline.
Professor Gillian Leng, NICE chief executive, said: “We understand that patient groups are anxious to see the guideline published as soon as possible. We are holding this roundtable to explain how the guideline was developed and the rationale behind the recommendations made and to hear and understand the concerns that have been raised. We hope there will be an open and honest discussion about these concerns to ensure that the final guideline will be effectively implemented across the system.”
The agenda for the meeting is as follows:
- Introduction and rules of the meeting – Dame Carol Black
- Guideline production at NICE - Dr Paul Chrisp, director of the Centre for Guidelines at NICE
- Aim of the Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management guideline - Dr Peter Barry, chair of the ME/CFS guideline committee
- Discussion of issues raised: diagnosis, graded exercise therapy, children and young people, and cognitive behaviour therapy.
- Summary - Dame Carol Black.
In the House of Lords, on Tuesday 12 October 2021
The forthcoming NICE Guideline was discussed during a short "Health: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" debate.
“To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the decision to delay the planned new guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of ME/CFS, what assessment they have made of the ability of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to carry out its functions; and when they expect such guidance to be published.”
Also, this week, Action for ME gave Forward-ME’s update: Forward ME: upcoming NICE Round Table.
October 11, 2021
Update from Forward-ME on the upcoming round table event, hosted by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) next Monday (18 October), to "discuss key issues raised prior to publication" of its paused guideline for M.E.
Forward-ME and our members want to thank the many people with M.E., doctors and researchers who have contacted us to share concerns and frustrations around the delays to publication of the new NICE guideline for M.E.
Forward-ME has been invited to the round table and our following member organisations will also attend individually:
- Action for M.E.
- ME Research UK
- ME Association
- Science for ME
- The 25% ME Group
- The ME Trust
- Tymes Trust
- #MEAction.
We are not attending to discuss changes. All Forward-ME members recognise the significance of the recommendations in the new guideline, which has been produced and approved in accordance with NICE’s rigorous procedures, and should be published. We share the frustrations over the delay, and are working to achieve urgent publication.
We look forward to updating the M.E. community in the days following the round table, and we hope this is accompanied by swift publication.
The NICE Guideline ME/CFS: Personal Observations
by Dr Charles Shepherd, the MEA Hon Medical Adviser.
August 18, 2021
We should have been welcoming the arrival of a completely new NICE guideline on ME/CFS today. A guideline that acknowledged ME/CFS as a serious and complex medical condition. In fact, we had sent an embargoed press release and statement from Forward-ME to all the news-media in anticipation of its publication.
It was a guideline that contained sensible advice on activity, energy, and symptom management - along with a revised timeline and advice for early and accurate diagnosis, and it placed special emphasis on the care and management of children and young people and those who have severe or very severe ME/CFS.
Instead, we are discussing the huge disappointment felt by the patient community to yesterday's announcement from NICE to cancel publication today and to pause proceedings while discussions take place around objections to the new recommendations regarding CBT and GET - objections that were discussed and resolved as part of the long review process.
On a personal basis, having spent a considerable amount of my time over the last four years working with colleagues on the preparation of this new guideline, I feel frustrated and angry. The action of a small number of people who have persuaded the leadership at the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and possibly other Royal Colleges, to put pressure on NICE to reconsider what had already been agreed by the guideline committee, is reprehensible.
Dr Shepherd also explained that “the delay is unprecedented”, and described “What’s Next?”
The MEA’s FREE MEA NICE Guideline Leaflet provides essential extracts from the DRAFT GUIDELINE that will help you to understand the help and support that should be available from your local health and social care services.
Amongst the many articles on the MEA website, following the pause of the NICE Guideline.
Trial By Error:
An Updated Letter to the NICE Chief Executive About the Unpublished ME/CFS Guideline
September 16, 2021
Letter to NICE from UK charities and support organisations
September 6, 2021
A Letter Urging NICE to Publish ME/CFS Guideline Without Delay
September 1, 2021
• 25% M.E. Group • Action for ME • Forward ME • Government U.K. • #MEAction • M.E. Association • MERUK • N.I.C.E.
• Parliament U.K. • The ME Trust • Tymes Trust