Essex Community Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Service

Address & Contact
Tyrells Health Wing
Seamore Avenue
Benfleet
Essex
SS7 4EX
0300 443 2227 (using extension 32227)
Email: mse.cfsservice@nhs.net

Wait of 11months for a thorough assessment by an experienced OT. Carried out online or face to face. Offered a 5 week online course that was very well presented by all 4 medical people with up to date information following the current NICE Guidelines. Everything needed to manage and improve my ME. There were extra resources after each session.Follow up in 6 and 12 mths to see how l am processing
initial diagnosis after a phone call in 2023, group online sessions with others. telling you to pace, sleep hygiene. Then re referred by gp to ME/cfs team in 2025 to be told all the same info but they’re not doctors.the non clinical/non medical practitioner could not answer any clinical questions about my symptoms. I asked to be referred to a specialist dr for ME;told they don’t/cant.ask my gp.
Waited 2 years to see Occ Therapist for diagnosis. Interesting 5 week Zoom course, but shared with about 18 others, so I didn't feel confident to discuss my concerns. Follow-up at 6, then 12 months, then discharged to GP. GP was unaware of any of this process, until I gave them photocopies of all booklets/info. Now just left with no clinical support, but lots of needs. Feel like crying.
I was referred to the service after receiving confirmation that I had Chronic Fatigue, the diagnosis took over 2 years, the OT I met seemed obsessed with practising Mindfulness to exclusion of any other support, this stressed me out rather than supporting me, so I chose not to meet with them anymore, to which the response was to discharge me from the service

Description
We are an Essex-wide community service, and we require referrals from GPs.We are unable at this time to accept referrals from outside the Essex area.

We support people with: 

Mild to moderate Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) symptoms. Those with severe and very severe conditions, as outlined by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), should be referred to a Specialist Centre.

We are a small multidisciplinary team consisting of a Consultant Nurse, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Health and Well-being Practitioners. 

Our team provides a holistic assessment of patients to confirm diagnoses, which includes: 

  • A thorough history of symptoms and past medical conditions. 
  • A physical assessment.  This could include checking movement, balance and reflexes as well as blood pressure and heart rate.   
  • Questions around emotional well-being 
  • A social assessment.  This could include questions about where the patient lives, how they manage at home and whether they have care support. 

This information will enable our team to develop and agree a personalised care plan with the patient and their family/carer.   

Therapy support can be delivered in a variety of formats – face to face, video consultation or telephone. We prefer the 1st consultation to be face-to-face to enable us to make a definitive diagnosis. Following this, and as part of the personalised care plan, the patient will work with the therapy team on their preference for future contacts. Information and care can be provided in a variety of formats:  

  • Individual one-to-one sessions. 
  • Group-based sessions. 
  • Written information. 
  • Audio resources. 

Shopping Basket
Scroll to Top