Parliamentary Question: referral networks for fatigue evaluation and management, 8 February 2011

The Countess of Mar tabled a question which asked the Government whether, in the light of research by J Newton and others in the Newcastle NHS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Service: “Not all fatigue in the same” (J R Coll Physicians Edinb 2010: 40:304-7), they will establish referral networks for fatigue evaluation and management specifically for departments that commonly manage chronic diseases.

Earl Howe (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State [Quality] at Department of Health) supplied this written answer on 8 February 2011:

We have no plans to establish referral networks for fatigue evaluation and management. It is the responsibility of primary care trusts to commission services to meet the needs of their local population living with fatigue, and based on assessment of population need and clinical evidence.

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The subject was also discussed by Professor Newton and Professor David Jones in J Occupational Medicine 2010, 60:5:326-329.