The Countess of Mar tabled a question that asked the Government why they do not record the numbers of people who are diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis, given that current estimates are based on extrapolations from other countries?
On 27 November 2014, Earl Howe (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health) gave this written answer:
With the exception of cancer, there is no comprehensive central record of disease diagnosis for any condition. In 2007, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence produced the clinical guidance, Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy): Diagnosis and management of CFS/ME in adults and children which estimates that the annual prevalence is approximately 4000 cases per million of the population.
Thank you Lady Mar
Does this mean we have no idea of who has what in this country? Is it all guess work? Or are we just waiting for people to develop cancer after having ME?
Will this apply to Ebola cases, if it comes to this country I wonder?
Extraordinary!!
Ann
Yet another utterly contemptible answer from Earl Howe.
So about 256,000?