Please sign our petition to ensure Northern Ireland is included in U.K. cross-Government, proposed radical changes for ME patient safety and adequate care.

After decades of campaigning by patients and their families, an estimated 7500 ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) patients in Northern Ireland men, women and children remain without specialist NHS services. Early and accurate diagnosis is shown to provide patients with the best possible outcomes for improvement, and to avoid a worsening of symptoms and deterioration. 

In 2018 the Health and Social Care Board, commissioned new ME services and advertised a part-time post for an ME Clinical Lead. A suitable candidate was recruited and accepted the post but 16 months later, a clinic was never established and the candidate understandably gave up waiting for the post to become a reality, without ever seeing a patient.
In 2020, new interviews were set up and shortly before taking place were abruptly cancelled, when patients discovered discrepancies in the clinical placement of the proposed ME Clinic.

1.  We call for the Minister of Health, Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Medical Officer in Northern Ireland, to fully engage and comply with the recent statement made by Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, “to develop a cross-Government delivery plan on ME/CFS for England, aligning with other devolved nations as appropriate”. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-05-12/hcws23
2. We call for Northern Ireland MPs to join the Westminster All Party Parliamentary Group for M.E. https://appgme.co.uk/
3. We call for the Northern Ireland Health Committee to address all above information and align with England and the Scottish Government “to explore areas of potential shared interest and learning, especially in terms of research into ME/CFS”

                                 

N.I. leading patient charity Hope 4 ME & Fibro Northern Ireland, can do no more in campaigning and providing educational opportunities for healthcare providers, since 2011-

•  15 educational conferences, bringing world renowned clinicians and researchers to Northern Ireland.
•  4 GP surgery education presentations
• 1 Social Worker Group, online education presentation, with attendance from 6 GP surgery MDTs.
• 2 Queen’s University Belfast education events, attendance by approximately 600,  2nd year medical students.
• Were instrumental with the launch of the new NHS care pathway for Fibromyalgia in 2016. 
•  Invited to and delivered information on ME to (NICON 2019) Northern Confederate for Health and Social Care conference, 650 healthcare provider attendees.
•  Organised a series of six, ME education webinars with presentations from experts in the field. Hosted by and available to view free, on the HSC Clinical Education Centre website:  https://view.pagetiger.com/me-fibro-webinars/1
•  Providing monthly meetings since 2011, with specialist speakers, to help guide patients on safe and the most effective self-management: https://hope4mefibro.org/