We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Sue Luscombe as the ME Association's official adviser on diet and nutrition matters.
Sue – who will be joining the panel as usual at our ME Question Time event in Oxford on September 27 – is a Specialist Dietitian, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), with over 30 years experience working in the NHS.
Over the last ten years Sue has specialised in helping those with ME/CFS, after her then teenage daughter was diagnosed with the condition.
She has her own nutrition consultancy business, Hampden Health Limited. She also contributes to Vitality 360, a team of specialist therapists working nationally in fatigue and pain conditions under the leadership of founding director Jessica Bavinton. Sue is trained to use The Low FODMAP diet to reduce functional bowel symptoms – a new evidence-based dietary approach. She completed a postgraduate allergy diploma in 2006.
She joins a strong medical advisory panel here which comprises our medical adviser Dr Charles Shepherd, paediatric adviser Dr Nigel Speight and dental adviser Dr Richard Cantillon. Consultant neurologist Dr Abhijit Chaudhuri and care and social services writer Cathy Stillman-Lowe also contribute from time to time.
We were deeply saddened to hear of the death of Sue's daughter, Becki. Sue was with us at Wolfson College on the day her daughter died.
Charles Shepherd writes:
On behalf of everyone at The ME Association I would like to pass on our deepest condolences to Sue and Richard on the tragic and sudden death of their daughter.
I never met Becki but heard all about her life, her music and her campaigning from Sue.
In fact, Sue was with us at Wolfson College in Oxford on the day that Becki died.
Becki wanted her body to be used for medical research purposes and we have been able to make sure that this wish, which will hopefully lead to a better understanding of the cause of this illness, is being carried out.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family at this very difficult time.
There is a full tribute to Becki on the AYME website