Do we need an ME czar in the NHS?

[craigmorris]

The cruel irony facing many ME sufferers is that they're too ill to fight for the help they need. It seems that ME charities are doing great work to research an as yet very poorly understood illness but what is the government/ NHS doing on our behalf? Would an ME czar help focus attention on a long neglected area and ensure the appropriate funding and training for health professionals? As yet, I don't believe consultants can specialise in ME as it isn't yet recognized as a 'proper' illness.

[Dr Charles Shepherd]

Good idea but I cannot see the Department of Health wanting to go down this route

There are in fact a number of NHS specialists, in a variety of -ologies who spend a lot of time on clinical and/or research related to ME/CFS

But I don't think given the multisystem nature of this illness that we will see the creation of specialists who do nothing else but see ME/CFS patients

[Willow.J]

how about a specialty for neuro-immune disease and treat lots of things that otherwise fall through the cracks? ME/CFS, Gulf War illness, Lyme disease (especially refractory Lyme), multiple chemical sensitivities, fibromyalgia, etc.