What action has the Government taken to develop a delivery plan and strategy for ME?
Improvements in services for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in Wales are being supplemented via our Adferiad (Recovery) programme, which was initially set up to support people with Long Covid. Funding was allocated to all Health Boards in Wales to develop community focussed multi-disciplinary rehabilitation services, supported by referral pathways into secondary care for those who need it.
In March 2023 I announced an increase in recurrent funding for these services from £5m to £8.3m. This was to enable services to be widened to people with other long-term conditions whose rehabilitation and recovery needs are similar to people with long COVID – including those with ME/CFS.
I expect Health Boards to engage with people with lived experience, including Working for ME in Wales (WAMES), to co-produce their Adferiad (Recovery) funded service models