Highlands MSP calls for national guidelines on chronic fatigue syndrome

Highlands and Islands MSP Emma Roddick has called for national guidelines on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), also called chronic fatigue syndrome, to be established.

Currently in Scotland there is no national-level guidance for doctors of ME patients to refer to, leading to inconsistency in treatment across health boards and some patients suffering difficulties with diagnosis.

Ms Roddick said: “I have had regular communication with constituents of mine who have described the stress and difficulty caused by the lack of clear guidance for doctors. Folk want their doctors to understand what their condition means.

“They deserve for there to be clear guidelines so that doctors are armed with the information and confidence they need to prescribe treatment and support. This would also allow patients to refer easily to guidance that they can trust.

“I have previously written to every health board covering the Highlands and Islands supporting constituents on individual cases, clearly there is a need for full national guidance.

“Suggestions that doctors should simply follow the NICE guidelines simply do not work unless the underlying infrastructure is the same, we need guidance which works for our health services.”

She added: “I hope that the Scottish Government will accelerate work to make such national guidance a reality.”

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