Petition PE398 is from Helen McDade and calls on the Scottish Parliament to ask the Scottish Executive to carry out a strategic needs review assessment on myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome. Members should have received copies of the petition. Following the publication of the English working group's report, the Executive has set up its own short-life action group on the subject. We can wait for that group's conclusions unless members have any other suggestions.
Official Report · Committee
Petitions
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (PE398)
Speakers
Choose an MSP to read only their contributions- Margaret Smith LD 3
- John McAllion Lab 2
- Dorothy-Grace Elder Ind 1
The record
7 contributionsLet me fill members in on what has happened with the short-life action group—SLAG.
Careful, John.
It sounds as if it should be a short-life action group on sexual health.
The group has had only an initial meeting and progress has been slow. At the first meeting, people introduced themselves and had a general discussion about the areas that they might address. The patient representatives on the group are not convinced that the Scottish needs assessment programme that was offered by the Scottish Executive will be part of the group's agenda. They have promised to pursue the matter and I said that I would ask the Health and Community Care Committee whether I could pursue it with the Executive to ensure that the programme is on the group's agenda.There is also concern that the remit that has been given to the short-life action group does not include examining the position of research. It is difficult to commission services for ME sufferers when no research into the causes of and possible cures for the illness has been carried out. The patient representatives also want that to be raised, and I wonder whether we could discuss that matter with ministers.The Executive has set itself against having a clinical centre of excellence, which was one of the petition's requests. The petitioners have now suggested having two or three regional centres of excellence, which would overcome many of the Executive's objections; we could pursue that idea with the Executive. The petitioners warned that the Executive's reference to an undertaking by the Medical Research Council to support research into ME should be taken with a large dose of caution. Despite the fact that that offer was made a long time ago, no progress has been made with it. I understand that the all-party group on ME at the House of Commons will hear from representatives of the Medical Research Council why no progress has been made.Things are happening, but not as fast as the petitioners would like. It might be helpful if I, as reporter, take up some of the issues that we have discussed directly with the Executive, so that we can keep the pressure on.
Are we happy for John McAllion to do that on our behalf? All the points that he has made are perfectly reasonable. A number of people highlighted the wider need for continuing research the last time that we debated the matter, and it would be useful if John could follow up on those questions.The fact that the short-life action group has been set up is at least a move in the right direction. It is a matter of keeping up the pressure. Is our course of action agreed?
Members indicated agreement.
In this meeting
Everything on 22 May 2002 →- Scottish Parliament Health and Community Care Committee Wednesday 22 May 2002 (Morning) Committee business · 1
- Items in Private Procedure · 2
- Subordinate Legislation Subordinate legislation · 7
- Subordinate Legislation Subordinate legislation · 2
- Subordinate Legislation Subordinate legislation · 2
- Petitions Petitions · 14
- Petitions Petitions · 2
- Petitions Petitions · 2
- Petitions Petitions · 4
- Petitions Petitions · 7
- Petitions Petitions · 1
- Petitions Petitions · 2
- Petitions Petitions · 8
- Petitions Petitions · 2
- Petitions Petitions · 10
- Petitions Petitions · 7
- Petitions Petitions · 9
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