New ME Guidelines launched

The Sussex ME Society has welcomed new management guidelines for health professionals caring for patients affected by Myalgic encephalopathy(ME) or Chronic fatigue syndrome(CFS).

The guidelines were launched last week by the British Association for CFS/ME (BACME).

The Sussex ME Society, was founded 28 years ago, is a member organisation of BACME as is the NHS specialist CFS/ME Service based in Hayward’s Heath that has a staff of seven and receives 40 new referrals per month from local GPs.

The guideline covers both therapy and pharmacological symptom management.

Colin Barton, chair of the Sussex charity, says: “We very much welcome this guide that is the first of its kind and will help doctors and therapists across the county to manage people with this debilitating illness that could ease their suffering and lead to better outcomes for many of them.”

Dr Alastair Miller, Chair of BACME and Medical advisor to the Sussex ME Society, said: “The new guidelines meet a considerable need for a practical, clinical, treatment summary for all healthcare professionals working with patients suffering from this complex condition to follow. By bringing together specialists from different services and backgrounds, our guide provides a concise consensus for broader treatment; building on the knowledge of existing documents.  ME that can sometimes follow a viral infection or trauma and is classified as a neurological disorder affects around 6,000 people in Sussex including those from the LGBT community some of whom are housebound and in need of care.”

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