What have they submitted so far to the Task and Finish Group for feedback on the service spec issue?

Have they done anything at all?

#MEDeliveryPlan

How can they use that argument for one, but not the other?

Why would they pause consideration of one service, while continuing to develop another, if the same factors (NHSE/ICB reorganisation) are likely to effect both?

It makes no sense.

#MEDeliveryPlan #SevereME

From the ME Delivery Plan https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan/myalgic-encephalomyelitischronic-fatigue-syndrome-mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan Action: NHS England will co-design resources for systems to improve services including the development of the template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS. Progress: (New action) Work commenced, stakeholders to be engaged through a new health services sub-group of the Task and Finish Group, to seek feedback. Timeline/measure of success: Engagement, drafting and testing by December 2025. The template service specification will fully take into account NICE guidelines on ME/CFS, and be disseminated to all ICBs to inform their commissioning decisions and support quality of local service provision to match local needs. Action: DHSC, with NHS England, will explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by the Secretary of State for very severe ME/CFS. Progress: (New action) Initial discussions with NHS England have already taken place. Requires further development and expert clinical advice. Timeline/measure of success: Subject to ministerial decision. Timelines will be developed once the future direction is confirmed.

To that end, in addition to the actions from the IDP, we have agreed the following new actions, some of which are specific to ME/CFS, and some of which relate to wider health initiatives that will benefit people with long-term conditions, including those with ME/CFS. NHS England will co-design resources for systems to improve services, including the development of the template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS. This work has commenced, and stakeholders will be consulted on the outputs through a new health services sub-group of the ME/CFS Task and Finish Group, as part of which stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide feedback. The template service specification will: - fully take into account NICE guidelines on ME/CFS. - be disseminated to all integrated care boards (ICBs) to inform their commissioning decisions and support quality of local service provision to match local needs. DHSC, with NHS England, will explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by the Secretary of State for Health for very severe ME/CFS. Initial discussions have taken place and further development is required, including the establishment of a clinical committee to provide expert clinical advice to ministers. NHS England also remains committed to working with a wide range of patients, patient groups and other stakeholders in the development of its commissioning of specialised services. Ultimately, prescribing a specialised service will be a ministerial decision and subject to funding availability. (from the ME Final Delivery Plan)

For reference:

iykyk - these are the relevant sections of the #MEDeliveryPlan

Update from Tessa Munt MP.

#MEDeliveryPlan #SevereME

bsky.app/profile/tess...

That's *seriously* bad form of DHSC not to make a formal announcement, given the number of questions that have been asked about this in parliament. 😡

#MEDeliveryPlan #SevereME

Does anyone know where this DHSC announcement was made?

(tho tbf I don't think they'd got out of the "initiating talking about starting the planning" stage yet)

#MEDeliveryPlan

Screenshot of Pulse article: "GPs to support delivery of ME/CFS care under new NHS plan"

Pulse (on 22 July 2025) also mentioned the modules in its article about the #MEDeliveryPlan, but only provided a link to the Clinical Knowledge Summary on ME/CFS, which is still somewhat adequate (imo).

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinica...

Resource

Guys!
It looks like a version of the severe ME module was made open access yesterday!

#MEDeliveryPlan

learninghub.nhs.uk/Resource/793...

(NB: The previous version is still restricted)

This is *such* an interesting conversation, and touches on many of the issues faced when trying to get IACCs (back) into the medical curriculum.

#MEDeliveryPlan

#LongCovidAwarenessDay

Empty Classes? NHS Training on MECFS - Chronic Living Therapy Freedom of Information Request by Lucy B shows up NHS and RCP failure to publicise and encourage update of vital MECFS training modules

Blog from @chronicliving123.bsky.social on the low take-up of NHS training on ME/CFS.

#MEDeliveryPlan

chroniclivingtherapy.com/empty-classe...

This is something that the #MEDeliveryPlan FDP should have addressed as an *absolute* priority.

Language matters. Awareness matters.

Great that the BBC are showing these stories, but they shouldn't be getting these details wrong.

@sharonhodgsonmp.bsky.social

From my other recent thread, it's Lee Anderson's question that produces the fullest answer here, but like most of the minister's answers, the info was *already* in the #MEDeliveryPlan.

MPs need to be asking better questions!

bsky.app/profile/luci...

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Health Services. Question for Department of Health and Social Care, tabled on 27 January 2026. Jo Platt (Labour): 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 [sic] met.

Ashley Dalton (Labour) answered on 17 February 2026: 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.

8. On 27 Jan 2026, Jo Platt asked if the Government can outline what steps are being taken to ensure the needs of people with severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis are adequately met.

Ashley Dalton responded on 17 Feb 2026.

#MEDeliveryPlan

questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research Question for Department of Health and Social Care, tabled on 13 January 2026. Laura Kyrke-Smith (Labour): 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. Dr Zubir Ahmed (Labour) answered on 19 January 2026: 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.

5. On 13 Jan 2026, Laura Kyrke-Smith asked what steps DHSC is taking to put in place a long term funding strategy for research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

Dr Zubir Ahmed responded on 19 Jan 2026.

#MEDeliveryPlan

questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

Malnutrition: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Question for Department of Health and Social Care tabled on 18 December 2025. Rachael Maskell (Labour): To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2025 to Question 95676, whether his Department has conducted any evaluation of patient safety risks affecting people with severe and very severe ME/CFS, including malnutrition. Ashley Dalton (Labour) answered on 15 January 2026: Patient safety risks affecting people with severe and very severe myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), including malnutrition, have been considered during the development of the final delivery plan (FDP) published in July this year, through engagement with stakeholders, including clinicians and patient groups. To this end, the FDP 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 very severe ME/CFS. Officials from the Department have commenced discussions with NHS England on how best to take forward this action.

4. On 18 Dec 2025, Rachael Maskell asked whether DHSC has conducted any evaluation of patient safety risks affecting people with severe and very severe ME/CFS, including malnutrition.

Ashley Dalton responded on 15 Jan 2026.

#MEDeliveryPlan

questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

Lee Anderson (Reform UK): To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to help increase awareness of ME symptoms. Ashley Dalton (Labour): 2 December 2025 We published the final delivery plan (FDP) for myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), on 22 July, which focuses on boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS, as set out in the FDP, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has worked with NHS England to develop an e-learning programme on ME/CFS for healthcare professionals, with the aim of supporting staff to be able to provide better care and improve patient outcomes. All three sessions, with sessions one and two having universal access, whilst the third session is only available to healthcare professionals, of the e-learning programme are now available at the following link: https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/mecfselearning?nodeId=7288

https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/mecfselearning?nodeId=7288 The Medical Schools Council will promote the NHS England e-learning programme on ME/CFS to all United Kingdom medical schools and will encourage those medical schools to provide undergraduates with direct patient experience of ME/CFS. The General Medical Council (GMC) is the regulator of medical schools, and it is important that education is reenforced at different stages of medical training. Royal colleges play an important role in this. The GMC has included ME/CFS in the content map for the new national exam, so all medical schools will need to teach it as a subject. As outlined in the FDP, we will improve awareness of ME/CFS by launching a public awareness initiative to promote wider awareness and understanding of the condition and support available to people with ME/CFS and their families. DHSC will also engage stakeholders to discuss timely diagnosis and support for children who have ME/CFS and their families, as well as best practice in relation to safeguarding responsibilities. This will be taken forward in parallel with NHS England’s actions on ME/CFS services and neighbourhood multidisciplinary teams for children and young people. Furthermore, as outlined in the FDP, the Department for Education is encouraging the sharing of ME/CFS-specific information with relevant organisations and promoting relevant training and resources to support children and young people.

3. On 19 Nov 2025, Lee Anderson asked what steps DHSC is taking to help increase awareness of ME symptoms.

Ashley Dalton responded on 2 Dec 2025.

#MEDeliveryPlan

questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

I'm going to do a thread 🧵 here on the questions asked in UK Parliament about the #MEDeliveryPlan specifically and ME in general since November 2025.

Due to the vagaries of threads in BSky 🙄, this might not work as planned, but let's give it a go...

I've timestamped in the video where Binita talks about the #MEDeliveryPlan:

youtu.be/pk00btt7CVs?...

[t=2610s or 43m 30s]

Anyone know how the meeting on Wednesday between DrCS and @binitakane.bsky.social and the RCP reps went?

#MEDeliveryPlan

OK. Here's a suggestion, Dr CS.

Why don't the charities set up their own in-patient unit for people with very severe ME and show the blinkin medical establishment how it's done?

Because until you put your money and expertise where it actually matters, nothing will change.

#MEDeliveryPlan

User asks: Could I ask whether the uptake of the education modules was discussed today? I was horrified to see a recent FOI that showed that the Severe module had been accessed by a total of 33 people with an NHS email account. Yes, 33 people! That is appalling considering some of those log ins will have been by NHS staff who have ME themselves or have a relative who if affected. Can I ask what is being done to press the DHSC into delivering on this ‘education’ action point in the delivery plan, please? Thanks. MEA replies: Yes - medical education was discussed today with helpful contributions from Dr Luis Nacul and Dr Binita Kane Dr Kane and I will be meeting representatives from the Royal College of Physicians on Wednesday to discuss medical education of physicians on ME/CFS Dr CS MEA Another user says: This is a crucial point!

Questions about the Severe module...
#MEDeliveryPlan

ME Association: This is the statement I placed in the written comment section at the start of the meeting today. >> Many of us here today are extremely concerned about the continuing lack of information about what is going to happen to people with severe ME/CFS when this template only covers mild and moderate ME/CFS and some form of national strategy for very severe ME/CFS has been left to ministerial action - where we are again lacking any meaningful information as to what is happening So please can we have time during this meeting to discuss why there appears to be no planning taking place to link in with the recommenations in the NICE guideline regarding severe ME/CFS and to deal with a considerable number of people who are not only severely affected by ME/CFS but are also severely neglected by the NHS and social care provision I am not aware of any other specialist service for a serious long term condition that excludes people at the severe and very severe end of the spectrum Dr CS MEA

Comments from ME Association continue...
#MEDeliveryPlan

DHSC Delivery Plan: Actions for NHS England and the Royal College of Physicians - The ME Association Along with some colleagues from Forward ME, and some clinical […]

Yesterday, members of ME Forward met with DHSC and NHS England to discuss the delivery of clinical services for people with mild and moderate ME/CFS

#MEDeliveryPlan

meassociation.org.uk/2026/02/dhsc...

Missing from the NHS ME e-learning modules.

#MEDeliveryPlan

Good write-up from #ThereForME on progress with the #MEDeliveryPlan

I agree. People with ME deserve so much better.

Thank you for mentioning the FOIA request.

I hope that those who need to take notice will do something about the poor uptake.

#MEDeliveryPlan

I was particularly surprised by this "aim" from RCP that all of their ~40,000 members would undertake the modules by the end of 2025.

Particularly as (afaik) they have made no attempt to tell members about the modules, and no CPD points are available for completing the modules.

#MEDeliveryPlan

GPs to support delivery of ME/CFS care under new NHS plan GPs are set to play a key role in delivering care for people with mild and moderate ME/CFS under a new delivery plan.

I've searched and searched, and there is nothing on RCP or RCGP websites about it.

The only mention in the medical press was in Pulse when the Final #MEDeliveryPlan was announced.

But that statement was from DHSC not RCGP.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/clinica...

wrt this action statement in the #MEDeliveryPlan, are there any UK GPs on here who can confirm whether the RCGP has indeed been sharing and promoting the NHSE e-learning modules on ME/CFS?

Thanks!

They also need to be looking at small trials and case reports from other countries, because none of this stuff is being done in clinics in the UK.
Where is the actual innovation???
#MEDeliveryPlan