United Kingdom: Humber CFS service

Sly Saint · Jun 29, 2022

Humber teaching hospital
service is under Adult Mental Health Services
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Service (CFS)
The Team provides a multi-disciplinary service for adult patients with a diagnosis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).

The team aims to enable patients to manage their symptoms independently and improve their own quality of life through the use of evidence-based interventions. It aims to work collaboratively with patients, patients’ families and their carers to establish an agreed approach to treatment and to work jointly with other services, as necessary, to meet the needs of patients holistically.

Because of the controversial nature of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, we aim to promote a clear understanding of the facts for which there is evidence and address some of the negative attitudes around this topic; through the provision of information, supervision and training.

We believe that CFS is a condition whose causes are still largely unknown. Nevertheless the effects are well documented and these include physical, emotional and social consequences. Given that the causes are unknown, there is no single recognised ‘cure’. What we can offer is treatment to reduce the effects in the three areas mentioned above.

This service does not take the view that CFS is ‘all in the mind’, not do we believe that patients are mentally ill. However evidence suggests that, as with many long term physical conditions, there may be psychological or social issues which can predispose trigger or perpetuate CFS. Therefore our treatment approach reflects this and includes physical, social and psychological elements.

Treatment and interventions
Our team, though small, includes professionals with a variety of skills and is able to provide a number of treatment approaches. These include pacing and graded activity, occupational therapy, psychological therapy, psychiatry and physiotherapy.

Appropriate supervision and training are maintained to ensure the above treatments are effectively delivered. Issues of sleep, stress, mood, relationships and medication are covered, if necessary, to facilitate the effective management of CFS. Short and longer term interventions are provided as appropriate, although all episodes of care are time limited to around 20 sessions due to demands upon the services and the team’s philosophy of promoting independence.

We make use of well-researched outcome measures to assess and monitor fatigue and psychological health. All patients are asked to complete these monitoring forms at the first assessment and again periodically throughout their treatment. Anonymised information from these measures is used to report on the effectiveness of the team’s work. If we undertake formal research by, going beyond normal outcome monitoring, patients will be expressly asked to give their consent for this and their care will not be affected if they decline to take part in any research project.
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No mention of ME anywhere, nor the NICE guidelines.

https://www.humber.nhs.uk/Services/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-service-cfs.htm

rvallee · Jun 29, 2022

They keep saying it's evidence-based even after the evidence base has been debunked and invalidated as a recommendation.

They are doing the equivalent of homeopaths saying "we treat cancer with homeopathic remedies", which is a true statement regardless of whether they are effective. They are using it, it's true. There is evidence for this, it's true. All of it bad and unreliable, misleading, even.

So really evidence-based is more of a mantra, like a company with a slogan that says "we do quality", as if any company would ever have a slogan that says something like "we're really bad at this, we only build crap!".

Sly Saint · Jan 8, 2023

no change to website
@adambeyoncelowe

RedFox · Jan 9, 2023

rvallee said: ↑

They keep saying it's evidence-based even after the evidence base has been debunked and invalidated as a recommendation.

They are doing the equivalent of homeopaths saying "we treat cancer with homeopathic remedies", which is a true statement regardless of whether they are effective. They are using it, it's true. There is evidence for this, it's true. All of it bad and unreliable, misleading, even.

So really evidence-based is more of a mantra, like a company with a slogan that says "we do quality", as if any company would ever have a slogan that says something like "we're really bad at this, we only build crap!".
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It absolutely is. There's degrees of evidence, you know. The studies recommending GET are (at best) collections of anecdotes. The sources recommending against CBT/GET or claiming ME is a real illness are clinicial practice guidelines, generally accepted as the strongest form of medical evidence.

Sean · Jan 10, 2023

This service does not take the view that CFS is ‘all in the mind’, not do we believe that patients are mentally ill. However evidence suggests that, as with many long term physical conditions, there may be psychological or social issues which can predispose trigger or perpetuate CFS.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

adambeyoncelowe · Jan 10, 2023

Sly Saint said: ↑

no change to website
@adambeyoncelowe
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Please also send these sort of things to Charles at the MEA, if he doesn't have the info already. He's good at reaching out and putting their responses into the public domain.

Thanks for this. Another one to watch.

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United Kingdom: Humber CFS service

Sly Saint Senior Member (Voting Rights)

rvallee Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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United Kingdom: Humber CFS service

Sly Saint Senior Member (Voting Rights)

rvallee Senior Member (Voting Rights)

Sly Saint Senior Member (Voting Rights)

RedFox Senior Member (Voting Rights)

Sean Moderator Staff Member

adambeyoncelowe Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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