The HASC team provided the working group with an update on recent progress with the ICB, including a presentation shared with service commissioners and leads for ME and Long COVID services across the ICB.
Key Discussion Points:
- Graded Exercise Therapy (GET):
Ongoing concerns were raised about the promotion of GET, particularly with outdated materials still in use. - Coding & Medical Records:
The group discussed challenges related to inaccurate or missing ME codes in patient records, which have a direct impact on service planning and funding. A proposal to distribute coding cards to GP practices is moving forward, but issues remain due to misconceptions about code availability and discrepancies between different electronic clinical systems. - GP Education:
There was a strong emphasis on the need for mandatory ME/CFS training for GPs. A proposal was made to integrate this training into Primary Care Network (PCN) programs, ensuring improved diagnostic questioning and better referrals to accredited support services.
The HASC team would like to thank all those who have contributed their time, expertise, and insights to these important discussions. We will continue to provide updates as the pilot work progresses.