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

At the very least at least ME/CFS advocates don’t have to start from scratch educating someone about the existence of the illness and basic information. Based on previous involvement speaking in debates etc I would hope she’s going to do what she can to push DHSC and NHS from the inside, not as much political clout as Sajid Javid had as the Secretary of State for health but still potentially helpful.
 

Photo of Tom MorrisonTom Morrison Liberal Democrat Deputy Chief Whip​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 86003, if his Department will commission a specific comparative review, in collaboration with the Medical Research Council, into the relative level of National Institute for Health and Care Research funding for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome compared with other long-term conditions.

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

The Department does not intend to commission a specific comparative review into the relative level of National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) or Medical Research Council funding for research into myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), compared with other long-term conditions. We recognise that ME/CFS is an under-researched area, and we are committed to working with the ME/CFS community to identify and address barriers to research, with the ambition of supporting and funding more research and capacity-building programmes.

As outlined in the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan, there has historically been a relatively low amount of biomedical research funded on ME/CFS, compared with disease burden. Our efforts are focussed on delivering the actions outlined in the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan to support and increase research in this area. Since our answer to Question 86003, we have hosted a showcase on post‑acute infection conditions, bringing together people with lived experience, researchers, clinicians, and funders to stimulate further research. A summary of this showcase has been published on NIHR Open Research. We have also made progress with our new funding opportunity for development awards focussed on the feasibility of a phase 2 platform clinical trial. This would test multiple repurposed pharmaceutical interventions and/or non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of post-viral conditions including ME/CFS. The committee will now consider the applications, and shortlisting decisions will be shared with the researchers in March.
 

Photo of Tessa MuntTessa Munt Liberal Democrat, Wells and Mendip Hills​

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what clinical criteria are under consideration for determining eligibility for any nationally prescribed specialised service for severe or very severe ME.

Photo of Sharon HodgsonSharon Hodgson The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Health and Social Care​

The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.
 
saying they can’t answer in the time available is better than getting a digging heels in general knee jerk waffle about the final delivery plan.

Not saying this happened but I can imagine a scenario where I as new minister and department had provided something like that it would be a good opportunity for me to tell them I’m not signing it off. Or it could just be the officials now realise they have to give substantive responses because the issue isn’t going away.
 
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At some point someone has to ask the question why it is that so many patients exist and have no healthcare provision at all from the NHS and the funding for research by government is pence per person a year and nothing has been done to correct this.
 
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