On Monday, ME charity representatives and some patients joined the family, friends and colleagues of Keith Anderson at Kirkcaldy Crematorium to salute his life, brought to a premature end days before following a battle with cancer.
© David Gee Photographers – http://davidgeephotographer.co.uk/
Keith has often been referred to as “the only ME specialist nurse in Scotland“, a lone crusade he has pursued with determination and resilience from 2003 when he started campaigning with his employers in NHS Fife to set up a specialist service, helped by the FIfe support group. When he succeeded in 2004, it appeared both as something of a miracle and potentially the start of similar service development across NHS Scotland.
But, despite all his work over the years:
– speaking to MSPs and fellow practitioners whenever the opportunity presented;
– helping in the development of the Scottish Good Practice Statement on ME-CFS in 2009/10;
– producing practice notes and educational material including a recent podcast as part of the current Learn About ME project in Scotland
– and recently, helping with treatment for Long Covid patients, when his own treatment allowed;
…………...Keith remained the only properly grounded NHS service for ME & CFS across Scotland.
They say no-one is irreplaceable, but those who met him will join his friends and family in refuting that. Keith was a good-natured, reassuring figure wherever he went, and will be sorely missed.
Dr Charles Shepherd, Honorary Medical Adviser to the ME Association:
Although I can't recall ever meeting Keith on my visits to Scotland we did correspond from time to time and I was well aware of the very high regard that his patients and colleagues had for all the work he did for people with ME/CFS
Sadly, I think it is now going to be very difficult to find anyone who can carry on the work that Keith was doing.
Dr Charles Shepherd,
Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association,
Member of the 2018-2021 NICE guideline on ME/CFS committee,
Member of the 2002 Chief Medical Officer's Working Group on ME/CFS
