ME Association’s Post

Recognise ME – Raising Awareness in GP Practices   The ME Association is committed to improving healthcare for people with ME/CFS. This month, we have commissioned a distribution company to ensure leaflets and posters will be displayed in around 3,000 GP surgeries in the UK.   https://lnkd.in/dR-nWudR   #pwME #MECFS #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #PrimaryCare #HealthcareProfessionals #MEAwareness #RecogniseME #MEAssociation

BBC News: HRT prescriptions in England up 22% in a year   "Some 13 million items were prescribed to an estimated 2.6 million patients in the latest full financial year spanning 2023/24. It comes after the government introduced a new scheme allowing women to get a year's worth of treatment for less than £20.   The prescription prepayment certificate was introduced in England in April 2023."   https://lnkd.in/dBpKkini   Information about the new PPC for HRT: https://lnkd.in/emfZSDMu   Although the normal Pre Payment Certificate will also cover HRT (and the PPC above is helpful for people only taking HRT and who do not have a PPC as below):   https://lnkd.in/eZQy2gnD #MECFS #pwME #Menopause #WorldMenopauseDay #WorldMenopauseDay2024 #HRT 

Covid booster TWIMC Template letter This template letter can help you obtain a Free NHS Autumn Covid Booster vaccination if you have ME/CFS and decide to have one. https://lnkd.in/dx6yNQ3Z #pwME #MECFS #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #LongCovid #PostCovid

**TW: Upsetting Content** Guardian: Maeve Boothby O’Neill died because of a discredited view of ME. How was this allowed to happen? "Chronic fatigue syndrome [ME] is as physiological as a broken leg. For the sake of those who have it, we must learn all we can from this tragic case" "Last week, the coroner at the inquest into the death of Maeve Boothby O’Neill published her damning report on the prevention of future deaths. Maeve was suffering from myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a condition afflicting hundreds of thousands in the UK. ME/CFS robs those who have it of energy. Severe cases can shut down every aspect of their lives." Read in full: https://lnkd.in/eyhb6Npr #pwME #MECFS #MyalgicE #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #SevereME #MaeveInquest

Parliamentary Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure that the 2021 NICE Guideline for ME/CFS is implemented. Read the answer here: https://lnkd.in/dk8PX-wj #pwME #MECFS #MyalgicE #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #LongCovid #PostCovid 

New free booklet published about Menopause and HRT by Dr Charles Shepherd This booklet provides a valuable explanation of the process of menopause and perimenopause, diagnosis, explaining the different symptoms and information on self management and HRT. If you are considering taking HRT, talk to your GP about the options. We recommend that the medical information in this leaflet is discussed with your doctor. It is not intended to be a substitute for personalised medical advice or treatment. Read and download the booklet here: https://lnkd.in/ehiuCkcg #MECFS #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #menopause #MEresearch

The Mirror: DWP update on the proposed PIP vouchers  "A minister at the Department for Work and Pensions has hinted that the new Labour government will not be pressing ahead with the controversial plans to turn disability benefits into a voucher system The Minister for Social Security and Disability said, "We will be considering our own plans for social security in due course and will fulfil our continued commitment to work with disabled people so that their views and voices are at the heart of all that we do." Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d9nkyJYp  #pwME #MECFS #MyalgicE #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #Benefits #PersonalIndepencePayment #PIP #LongCovid #PostCovid 

BBC News: ‘Chopstick Sally’ helps housebound author tackle ME Sally Doherty, who lives in Surrey, was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) in May 2006 after falling ill in late 2005. In a bid to spread the word about her books and explore the country, she came up with the idea of creating a miniature version of herself which would feature on chopsticks and could go to events in place of her. So Chopstick Sally was born. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e5DkGgif #MECFS #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis

Update from Prof Tyson: The ME/CFS Clinical Assessment Toolkit Project and Survey We have launched the final survey of the project. This one is to test out an assessment of clinical needs, called (originally) the Clinical Needs Assessment for ME (CNA-ME) Please could you help by completing the survey. https://lnkd.in/eQUsaYM7 #MECFS #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ClinicalAssessment #MEResearch #MEAssociation

The Telegraph: How Miranda Hart’s comeback fell flat (paywalled) “But while the permanently jolly Call The Midwife star has been doing the rounds promoting her memoir after a four-year break from our screens, controversy has been brewing that some of the claims the book makes about chronic illness are unsubstantiated and potentially harmful.” “Dr Frances Ryan, who is a journalist, an activist for those with disabilities and the author of Who Wants Normal?, wrote on X: “Miranda Hart’s new memoir on chronic illness seems very well intentioned but this pseudoscience is worrying. If you’re writing a book after you’ve recovered, there’s a particular responsibility to be accurate to readers who are desperate to recover too.” Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/ehwhKc9A Image credit: Stock photo #pwME #MECFS #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicLymeDisease #LymeDisease #ChronicIllness