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<p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) guideline, Myalgic
encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy)/chronic fatigue syndrome: diagnosis and management,
published in October 2021, outlines the expectations for inpatient care for patients
with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), also known as chronic fatigue syndrome. The guidance
states that where possible, patients with ME should be provided with a single room,
and that factors such as the level of lighting and sound should be taken into consideration,
and necessary adjustments made.</p><p>It is the duty of clinicians to keep themselves
appraised of best practice, in particular guidance issued by the NICE. Whilst guidelines
are not mandatory, clinicians and commissioners are expected to take them fully into
account when designing services that meet the needs of their local population. The
NICE promotes its guidance via its website, newsletters, and other media.</p><p>The
Department is working with NHS England to develop an e-learning course on ME for healthcare
professionals, with the aim of supporting staff in providing better care and improving
patient outcomes. The Medical Schools Council will promote the NHS England e-learning
package on ME to all United Kingdom medical schools, and encourage medical schools
to provide undergraduates with direct patient experience of ME.</p><p>We have finished
consulting on My Full Reality, the cross-Government interim delivery plan on ME, which
seeks to improve the experiences and outcomes of people living with this condition.
We are in the process of analysing the results of the consultation. The views and
experiences gathered through this consultation will be used to build a picture of
how well the interim delivery plan identifies and meets the needs of the ME community,
and to highlight any significant gaps where further action may be necessary. We will
publish a summary of the consultation responses, which will inform the final delivery
plan being published later this year, in due course.</p>
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