Trafford's ME services under fire (From Messenger Newspapers)

Stockport ME Group calls for Trafford Primary Care Trust to provide specialist services

8:50am Thursday 18th March 2010 in News By Chris Griffin

TRAFFORD'S health service is failing hundreds of the borough's residents who suffer from the devastating condition ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome, a support group claims.

The Stockport ME Group says it been trying unsuccessfully for five years to get Trafford health chiefs to open a specialist clinic for the borough's estimated 900-plus sufferers of the condition.

But the group - which covers Trafford - claims its efforts have fallen on deaf ears - and that has left hundreds of people struggling to cope with a condition that can wreck lives.

That is in contrast to neighbouring Stockport, where such a service has been in place for 15 years. The group says this has seen improvement and recovery rates soar from less than 20 per cent to 70 to 80 per cent in Stockport.

Trafford health chiefs, though, insist they take the issue seriously, and are currently exploring options to improve services.

But the support group is calling on Trafford's 900 ME (myalgic encephalopathy) sufferers and their families to write to the primary care trust (PCT) to demand a similar service for Trafford.

Derek Vernon, campaigns manager for the ME group, said: "The situation in Trafford is desperate with 100 new cases a year and still no effective support from the PCT.

"ME is a devastating illness as disabling as multiple sclerosis or congenital heart failure, yet Trafford has not even trained its GPs to diagnose or treat the condition."

Derek added: “Without a specialist ME multi-disciplinary team service even more people will end up being bed or housebound for years. Over 200 people are already believed to be trapped in severe ME. It is tragic when you hear of a young person with ME, who has been bedbound for 20 years and is totally dependent on the family for support.”

Sue Sutton, deputy director of commissioning at Trafford PCT, said: "The PCT has met with the Stockport ME Group to discuss its concerns and takes this issue very seriously.

"Historically, Trafford PCT has commissioned services for people with ME, or chronic fatigue syndrome, on an individual basis. There are specialist treatment centres at various locations across Manchester, including one specifically for children, which accept referrals from Trafford PCT.

"As part of the work we are doing to understand how we can improve the services available to ME patients in Trafford, we have identified a number of options that we are currently exploring. This includes building on the current support provided to GPs around training and referral processes."

* The ME group wants ME sufferers and their families to ask for a specialist service by writing to Graham Wallis, interim chief executive at Trafford PCT, Oakland House, Talbot Road, Old Trafford, M16 0PQ.