GPs and health professionals in Scotland can now get a free one-hour training session on the diagnosis and management of M.E./CFS. This module, based on ten case studies, also supports the management of Long Covid symptoms.
Action for M.E. is very excited to launch a new partnership project in Scotland: Learn about M.E. – the M.E./CFS Professional Development Project in Scotland.
This project is a partnership between Action for M.E., The M.E. Association, #MEAction Scotland, The 25% Group and Dr. Nina Muirhead. Dr Muirhead, who developed a free online Continuing Professional Development (CPD) module in partnership with the UK CFS/M.E. Research Collaborative (CMRC,) became ill with M.E./CFS in 2016.
Dr. Muirhead said: “Only after I developed M.E. myself did I realize that I had not understood the illness. Feeling the devastating impact of M.E. on myself and my life I felt determined to offer something that changed that experience for other people.”
Many people with M.E. face disbelief and stigma around their illness and do not receive the appropriate care and support they need. This project provides vital information to GPs and Health Professionals in Scotland to assist them to diagnose and manage the symptoms of M.E./CFS. This module is also likely to be applicable to a subset of COVID patients who may develop post viral M.E./CFS and could be harmed by inappropriate advice to exercise.
There are around 20,000 adults and children living with M.E. in Scotland.
Action for M.E.’s Big Survey 2019 found that over 35% of respondents who live with M.E. in Scotland were not at all confident that their GP understood their condition. In addition, only 7% of children and young people and 16% of adults are obtaining a diagnosis within the current NICE and Scottish Good Practice Statement on ME-CFS guideline timescale of three months and four months respectively. Almost one in five adults (18%) waited more than six years for a diagnosis.
This training module on M.E./CFS will improve knowledge of the illness; reduce delays to diagnosis, reduce the likelihood of multiple unnecessary referrals and investigations and the potential for harm for people with M.E.
General Practitioners, Medical students and Allied Health Professionals will receive 1 hour CPD upon successful completion of the course.
The Scottish Government’s Neurological Framework funding is supporting the project to improve knowledge relating to diagnosis and management of M.E./CFS. Dr. Nina Muirhead is developing a complementary podcast and short opinion pieces to support dissemination and take up in Scotland.
