UK House of Lords/ House of Commons - relevant people and questions

Photo of Laura Kyrke-SmithLaura Kyrke-Smith Labour, Aylesbury​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to put in place a long term funding strategy for research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Photo of Zubir AhmedZubir Ahmed The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

As set out in the Government’s final delivery plan for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) that was published in July 2025, the Department has taken action to strengthen research capacity and capability for ME/CFS to support the long-term future of the research field.

These actions include hosting a research showcase event, a new development award to evaluate repurposed pharmaceutical interventions, and announcing newly funded studies in health and care services, research infrastructure, and capacity-building.

We are determined to accelerate progress in the treatment and management of ME/CFS and will continue working with the community to identify and address barriers to research.

The Department funded National Institute for Health and Care Research welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including ME/CFS.
 
Tao Fogger said:

Photo of Laura Kyrke-SmithLaura Kyrke-Smith Labour, Aylesbury​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure consistent application of NICE guidelines across Integrated Care Boards for the diagnosis and access to specialist care for the treatment of ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Photo of Ashley DaltonAshley Dalton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines are evidence-based, informed by clinical expertise, and represent best practice. Healthcare professionals and integrated care board (ICB) commissioners are expected to take NICE guidelines fully into account when designing and delivering services, including for the diagnosis and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). NHS England ensures that ICBs follow NICE guidance through a combination of statutory oversight frameworks, annual performance assessments, and local clinical governance requirements.

We published the final ME/CFS delivery plan in July 2025, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan

The plan focuses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. It also sets out a series of actions, which will help address the key challenges and drive forward improvements to outcomes and quality of life for people living with ME/CFS in England.
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That’s a big of a weird one of “why would someone ask that?

It sounds instead like for some reason the person wanted to talk on it so someone else was asked to ask it - but I’m not even sure in working out what that would achieve or why

These questions and answers are all do rubbish and seem with bite that someone’s stitched us up pre-organised but not from anyone who is in our side

That it’s a message of our place being delivered to us and I find it quite brutal in that way given to me I feel I see a difference between this and things band people being taken seriously

And this seems like a big staged charade of questions we even get to have answered for the next year and bullying pretending there is a MEDICAL service when the entire aim from all those involved is a ‘AVOID it ever bring allowed to be looked at medically’ service

There is a real ‘we’ve decided how we are dealing with you’ feel coming off all of this for me
 
Tao Fogger said:

Photo of Laura Kyrke-SmithLaura Kyrke-Smith Labour, Aylesbury​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure consistent application of NICE guidelines across Integrated Care Boards for the diagnosis and access to specialist care for the treatment of ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Photo of Ashley DaltonAshley Dalton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines are evidence-based, informed by clinical expertise, and represent best practice. Healthcare professionals and integrated care board (ICB) commissioners are expected to take NICE guidelines fully into account when designing and delivering services, including for the diagnosis and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). NHS England ensures that ICBs follow NICE guidance through a combination of statutory oversight frameworks, annual performance assessments, and local clinical governance requirements.

We published the final ME/CFS delivery plan in July 2025, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan

The plan focuses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. It also sets out a series of actions, which will help address the key challenges and drive forward improvements to outcomes and quality of life for people living with ME/CFS in England.
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This doesn’t seem to answer the question though?
 

Photo of Roz SavageRoz Savage Liberal Democrat, South Cotswolds​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of dedicated Long Covid services on patient outcomes; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the long-term effects of Covid-19 are (a) properly identified, (b) monitored and (c) treated.

Photo of Roz SavageRoz Savage Liberal Democrat, South Cotswolds​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the closure of specialist Long Covid clinics on the collection of data on the long-term health impacts of Covid-19; and what steps he is taking to ensure that these conditions are not under-recognised or under-resourced as a result.

Photo of Roz SavageRoz Savage Liberal Democrat, South Cotswolds​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data his Department holds on patient outcomes for those with Long-Covid following the closure of dedicated services; and how many former Long Covid patients are being supported through ME/CFS services.

Photo of Ashley DaltonAshley Dalton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

While no central assessment has been made of the impact of local closures of post-COVID-19 services on patient outcomes and data collection, the Government understands the scale of the issue at hand, particularly the impact of long COVID-19 on health, employment, and the economy.

The Government is aware that post-acute infection conditions, such as long COVID-19, can have a devastating effect on those who suffer from them. We are committed to taking a comprehensive and compassionate approach to supporting individuals with post-acute infection conditions such as long COVID-19, recognising the unique challenges these conditions present.

Integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning specialist services for long COVID-19 that meet the needs of their population, subject to local prioritisation and funding. NHS England has published commissioning guidance for post-COVID-19, or long COVID-19, services, which sets out a blueprint for best practice in supporting people with long COVID-19 and is designed to be adapted to local needs. This guidance is avaiable at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/national-commissioning-guidance-for-post-covid-services/

Anyone who is concerned about long lasting symptoms after having COVID-19 should contact their general practitioner (GP). If appropriate, their GP will refer them to a National Health Service long COVID-19 service where available, or a suitable alternative, which will assess people and direct them into care pathways which provide appropriate support, treatment, and rehabilitation.

To support clinical leadership in this area, NHS England worked in partnership with the British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine to establish the International Post- Covid and Post-Infection Conditions Society to facilitate the ongoing sharing of best practice to support people affected by long COVID-19.

Ongoing projects funded through the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Medical Research Council (MRC) aim to improve our understanding of the diagnosis and underlying mechanisms of long COVID-19 and the effectiveness of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies and interventions, as well as to evaluate clinical care. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including long COVID-19. The NIHR and MRC remain committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment of post-viral conditions, including long COVID-19, and are actively exploring next steps for research into post-viral conditions.

On 6 November 2025, the NIHR and MRC hosted a showcase event for post-acute infection conditions, including long COVID-19, research. This brought together people with lived experience, researchers, clinicians, and research funders to help stimulate further research in this field. We are now considering discussions from the showcase event to explore next steps to stimulate further vital research in this area.

We are determined to accelerate progress in the treatment and management of long COVID-19. This includes a new funding opportunity for a development award which is focussed on the feasibility of a phase 2 platform clinical trial that tests multiple repurposed pharmaceutical interventions and/or non-pharmacological interventions and devices. This targeted funding opportunity is one component of our approach to improve evidence around the diagnosis, management, and treatment of post-acute infection conditions, including long COVID-19.
 
Tao Fogger said:
To support clinical leadership in this area, NHS England worked in partnership with the British Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine to establish the International Post- Covid and Post-Infection Conditions Society to facilitate the ongoing sharing of best
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Alarm bells sounding… that and the talk of there being alternative appropriate pathways…
Imagine if they gave that answer for other conditions with similar impact on people as Long Covid and ME/CFS.
 
Tao Fogger said:
This includes a new funding opportunity for a development award which is focussed on the feasibility of a phase 2 platform clinical trial that tests multiple repurposed pharmaceutical interventions and/or non-pharmacological interventions and devices.
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If they havent figured out by now that non-pharmalogical interventions aren't likely to do much, I don't know what to tell them.
 
Tao Fogger said:
We are now considering discussions from the showcase event to explore next steps to stimulate further vital research in this area.
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The next step is SequenceME. Even a fool could see that. If they have no intention of doing that I doubt they have the intelligence to fund good quality smaller projects.

The level of dishonesty in these responses [edit: the government's PMQ responses, to be clear] is sickening.
 
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I continue ambivalent about asking for funding for more specialist ME/CFS or Long Covid services. Though we desperately need appropriate local services, especially for those who are severe and very severe, more of the same is likely to do more harm than good.

Existing services are likely to be the ones consulted by the NHS in planning future provision, but they are the people that are largely getting it wrong at present.
 
Tree said:
This doesn’t seem to answer the question though?
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Tao Fogger said:

Photo of Laura Kyrke-SmithLaura Kyrke-Smith Labour, Aylesbury​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure consistent application of NICE guidelines across Integrated Care Boards for the diagnosis and access to specialist care for the treatment of ME/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Photo of Ashley DaltonAshley Dalton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines are evidence-based, informed by clinical expertise, and represent best practice. Healthcare professionals and integrated care board (ICB) commissioners are expected to take NICE guidelines fully into account when designing and delivering services, including for the diagnosis and treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). NHS England ensures that ICBs follow NICE guidance through a combination of statutory oversight frameworks, annual performance assessments, and local clinical governance requirements.

We published the final ME/CFS delivery plan in July 2025, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan

The plan focuses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. It also sets out a series of actions, which will help address the key challenges and drive forward improvements to outcomes and quality of life for people living with ME/CFS in England.
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"NHS England ensures that ICBs follow NICE guidance through a combination of statutory oversight frameworks, annual performance assessments, and local clinical governance requirements".

Isn't this nonsense, when NHS England didn't apparently even know what the service provision was & did nothing visible after NG21 publication? Ashley D assured the, imo, seemingly quite naive POTS debate, of the same thing, regarding NHSE being the one who was ensuring the provision of services, & then Rachel Gaskell MP got up and flatly said, well, we know there are barely any etc.

Afaics, as our charities have essentially accepted the DHSC delivery plan, the government is now just going to keep quoting it back to patients - via these questions - as if it is “fixing our problems”, along with this type of nonsense.
Everything is grand, people, just chillax.
 

Photo of Anneliese DoddsAnneliese Dodds Labour/Co-operative, Oxford East​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing vaccinations against Covid-19 for children and adults who have Long Covid.

Photo of Ashley DaltonAshley Dalton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

The Government is committed to protecting those most vulnerable to COVID-19 through vaccination, as guided by the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious disease, resulting in hospitalisations and deaths, arising from COVID-19. Population immunity to COVID-19 has increased due to a combination of naturally acquired immunity, following recovery from infection, and vaccine-derived immunity. COVID-19 is now a relatively mild disease for most people, though it can still be unpleasant, with rates of hospitalisation and death having reduced significantly since COVID-19 first emerged.

The focus of the programme is on vaccination of the oldest adults and individuals who are immunosuppressed. These are the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease, including mortality. In line with JCVI’s advice, in autumn 2025 a COVID-19 vaccination is being offered to:

- adults aged 75 years old and over;

- residents in care homes for older adults; and

- individuals aged six months old and over who are immunosuppressed.

On 15 December 2025, the Government accepted the JCVI’s advice for spring 2026 and in line with the advice, a COVID-19 vaccination will be offered to the same groups as in autumn 2025 and previous spring campaigns.

Long term health consequences following COVID-19, including post-COVID syndromes, such as long COVID, have been discussed at meetings of the JCVI COVID-19 sub-committee. The JCVI’s view is that it remains uncertain whether additional COVID-19 vaccine doses, for example the fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, have a significant effect on the chances of developing long COVID, how it progresses, or how it affects people. The JCVI keeps all vaccination programmes under review.
 

Photo of Will ForsterWill Forster Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Immigration and Asylum)​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help ensure that patients with long covid receive condition specific care.

Photo of Ashley DaltonAshley Dalton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

Long COVID, or post-COVID, services are commissioned by integrated care boards. These services should comprise of an integrated pathway of assessment, medical treatment, and multifaceted rehabilitation, with direct access to required diagnostics. Referral should be via a single point of access which is managed by clinician-led triage. At all stages in the care pathway, patients should be offered a range of support, treatment, and rehabilitation services, depending on the specific needs of the individual.

NHS England has set up specialist post-COVID services nationwide for adults, and children and young people, and is investing in ensuring general practice teams are equipped to support people affected by the condition. The Living with Covid Recovery mobile phone app also supports people recovering from long COVID at home. The app has enabled the National Health Service to monitor and support the recovery of those suffering from long COVID more effectively.

While there is no single treatment for long COVID, there are treatments available to help manage some of the symptoms. Specifically, the Government has funded clinical trials to test and compare different treatments such as antihistamines, anticoagulants, and anti-inflammatory medicines, as well as trials such as REGAIN.

The Neighbourhood Health Service, delivered by new multidisciplinary teams of professionals, will embody our new preventative principle that care should happen as locally as it can, to support more services being delivered in the community, including for people with long COVID.
 
Dalton said:
The Living with Covid Recovery mobile phone app also supports people recovering from long COVID at home. The app has enabled the National Health Service to monitor and support the recovery of those suffering from long COVID more effectively.
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Oh, they be lying so much. This amount of lying is absolutely incompatible with good governance. Just one small bit in this, but I would bet that a FOI request demanding to show usage of this app would not even see 1K having used it beyond once for 10 minutes in total, likely not even 100.
 

Photo of Jo PlattJo Platt Labour/Co-operative, Leigh and Atherton​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in response to Question tabled on 15 December 2025, UIN 99871, if the Government can outline what steps are being taken to ensure the needs of people with severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis are adequacy met.

Photo of Ashley DaltonAshley Dalton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

The final delivery plan on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), published in July 2025, includes an action for the Department and NHS England to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for severe ME/CFS. Officials from the Department have commenced discussions with NHS England on how best to take forward this action.

The third and final session in NHS England’s newly-developed ME/CFS e-learning series, Managing Severe ME/CFS, is now live on the NHS Learning Hub. This session provides practical, evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals to support people living with severe and very severe ME/CFS.

Additionally, as set out in the Plan for Change, we are committed to returning to the NHS constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment by March 2029. We exceeded our pledge to deliver an extra two million appointments, tests, and operations in our first year of government, having delivered 5.2 million additional appointments between July 2024 and June 2025. This will help people with severe ME/CFS to get support sooner.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out a transformed vision for elective care by 2035, where most interactions no longer take place in a hospital building, instead happening virtually or via neighbourhood services. We will empower patients by giving them greater choice and control and establishing expected standards for making their experience of planned NHS care as smooth, supportive and convenient as possible, including for people with severe ME/CFS.
 

Photo of Max WilkinsonMax Wilkinson Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Home Affairs)​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress the MRS has made in delivering mechanistic research into ME/CFS.

Photo of Zubir AhmedZubir Ahmed The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

We do not know what ‘MRS’ refers to in this context. The Department funds research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). A limited amount of mechanistic research is funded through the NIHR, but the Majority of mechanistic research is funded through the Medical Research Council (MRC), a UK Research and Innovation Council sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Mechanistic research into myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, is within the remit of the MRC.
 
Tao Fogger said:
we are committed to returning to the NHS constitutional standard that 92% of patients wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment by March 2029.
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Tao Fogger said:
This will help people with severe ME/CFS to get support sooner.
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Interesting phrasing given there are currently no consultants and no treatments and no plans for targeted investment to deliver either in the ‘Delivery Plan’.
 

Photo of Jim ShannonJim Shannon DUP, Strangford​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support exists for children under 16 diagnosed with Long Covid.

Photo of Ashley DaltonAshley Dalton The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

NHS England has invested significantly in supporting people with long COVID. This includes setting up specialist long COVID services nationwide for adults, and children and young people, and investing in ensuring general practice (GP) teams are equipped to support people affected by the condition. Since April 2024, in line with the National Health Service operating framework and the establishment of integrated care systems, the commissioning of services to support patients with long COVID, including children, has been the responsibility of integrated care boards. Where local long COVID services are not available, children and young people with long COVID symptoms should see their GP, who will be able to refer them to alternative existing services depending on their clinical needs.

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and the Medical Research Council (MRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, are committed to funding high-quality research to understand the causes, consequences, and treatment for long COVID.  This includes a new funding opportunity for a development award which is focussed on the feasibility of a phase 2 platform clinical trial that tests multiple repurposed pharmaceutical and/or non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, and long COVID.

We have also funded research specifically focused on long COVID in children and young people, including the approximate £1.9 million CLoCk study jointly funded by the NIHR and the MRC. The study developed an agreed definition of long COVID in children and young people and associated symptoms, to improve understanding of the condition and help harmonise research.
 
Wasn’t sure where to put this, but think it’s worth mentioning

Ashley Dalton has resigned as a health minister as she continues to receive treatment for metastatic breast cancer.

Dalton, MP for West Lancashire, was appointed as public health minister in February last year following Andrew Gwynne’s resignation and suspension from the Labour Party.

However, Dalton had been diagnosed with incurable breast cancer the previous month, having undergone surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer in 2014.
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In a letter to the Prime Minister, Dalton said she was “forever grateful” for being invited to serve as a minister, but said: “I believe now is the right time to take the reasonable adjustments I need to both manage my condition and focus on being a constituency MP by stepping back from ministerial duties.”
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Source: https://labourlist.org/2026/03/ashley-dalton-resigns-health-minister/
 
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