TOO TIRED TO GO TO THE SUPPORT GROUP - A HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS

Background Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) is a mysterious and controve rsial condition. Debate has centred upon its causation, and the purcha sing question - which services to commission for people with ME - has not been addressed. Methods A health needs assessment was made of peop le with ME in Wakefield, based upon published (including grey) literat ure, and local informants. Results Previous studies have mostly reflec ted institutional outbreaks; local needs will reflect community, spora dic cases but there is little information about these. The very wide e stimates of prevalence (between zero and 57 000 for a district the siz e of Wakefield) indicate a fundamental problem over the validity of th e concept of ME. Four sets of health needs emerged from the literature and from local informants: a medical diagnosis, rest, specific treatm ents and social care. All four are highly debatable. Conclusion There are no proven services or interventions which the health authority sho uld purchase for people with ME. Purchasing, being a blunt tool for se rvice change, is unlikely to improve health care given the disagreemen ts over the condition.