We have reached out to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to see if they are involved in reviewing hospital outpatient departments, specifically ME/CFS and Long Covid clinics, which we are particularly interested in.
In 2021, a new NICE Guideline on ME/CFS was published with a clear set of evidence-based clinical recommendations, and a NICE Guideline on Long Covid is available but not yet completed. The Department of Health and Social Care will publish a Delivery Plan on ME/CFS in March and is currently completing a stock-take of ME/CFS and Long Covid services nationally to inform its strategy.
As many Long COVID services are now integrating with ME/CFS services across England, Wales, and Scotland, we want to understand the procedures involved and whether they are indeed being reviewed on a regular basis.
NICE and the DHSC have recognised that services need monitoring, but so far, we have found no formal process in place, only a brief one for funding reviews.