Dr Shepherd and the Healthcare Team recently met with NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB to raise concerns about the current service provision for people with ME/CFS. The existing service was due to have its contract renewed under the Provider Selection Regime, removing the requirement for a competitive tender process. During the meeting, we called for future service development to fully align with NICE guideline NG206, including appropriate medical oversight and concerns were also raised about the lack of clear, condition-specific information on the current service website.
Despite these concerns, the ICB has confirmed that the contract will be awarded to the existing provider to maintain continuity of care while future service redesign is undertaken. The ICB acknowledged that the current provision does not fully meet NICE NG206 standards and has outlined plans to bring together both of its ME/CFS services and the Long Covid pathway. They have also indicated a willingness to continue engaging with the charity and to learn from best practice models in other regions. At present, there remains a distinct lack of publicly available information on how the current service supports people with ME/CFS, including referral pathways and condition-specific management. We will continue to monitor developments and will re-engage with the Trust if sufficient progress is not made.