{"value":{"id":1925556,"askingMemberId":4118,"askingMember":null,"house":"Commons","memberHasInterest":false,"dateTabled":"2026-07-08T00:00:00","dateForAnswer":"2026-07-13T00:00:00","uin":"16891","questionText":"To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent steps his Department has taken to support those with very severe ME.","answeringBodyId":17,"answeringBodyName":"Department of Health and Social Care","isWithdrawn":false,"isNamedDay":false,"groupedQuestions":[],"answerIsHolding":false,"answerIsCorrection":false,"answeringMemberId":1521,"answeringMember":null,"correctingMemberId":null,"correctingMember":null,"dateAnswered":"2026-07-16T00:00:00","answerText":"<p>The Department, together with NHS England, has developed an e-learning programme to help support healthcare professionals in the treatment and care of patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The programme consists of four modules, three of which have universal access, while the fourth is targeted at healthcare professionals. This programme includes two modules on ‘Managing Severe ME/CFS’, which also covers very severe ME/CFS, and the second version of this module for healthcare professionals addresses clinical approaches to severe and very severe ME/CFS. The e-learning is available at the following link:</p><p><a href=\"https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/mecfselearning?nodeId=7288\" target=\"_blank\">https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/mecfselearning?nodeId=7288</a></p><p>This e-learning, while not mandatory, is expected to support healthcare professionals, including in hospitals, deliver the right care for patients with severe and very severe ME/CFS. Additionally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of ME/CFS, including in hospitals, which are expected to be taken fully into account.</p><p>Additionally, ME/CFS: the final delivery plan, published in July 2025, included an action to consider whether a specialised service should be commissioned by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for very severe ME/CFS.</p>","originalAnswerText":"","comparableAnswerText":"","dateAnswerCorrected":null,"dateHoldingAnswer":null,"attachmentCount":0,"heading":"ME/CFS: Health Services","attachments":[],"groupedQuestionsDates":[]},"links":[{"rel":"self","href":"/Questions/1925556","method":"GET"}]}