What has the Welsh Government done, or what will it do, to ensure that the NHS in Wales caters for the most seriously ill ME/CFS patients, in accordance with NICE Guidelines NG206 published in 2021?
The Adferiad (Recovery) programme, which was initially set up to support people with long-Covid is improving support for people with ME/CFs. £8m of recurrent funding has been allocated to health boards since March 2023 to widen access to Adferiad-funded services to people with other long-term conditions whose rehabilitation and recovery needs are similar to people with Long-Covid, including ME/CFS, and to continue to develop and expand community-focused multi-disciplinary rehabilitation services, supported by referral pathways into secondary care for those who need it.
All health boards are developing services focusing on proactive care and targeting recovery and rehabilitation, promoting self-management and supported self-management through a multidisciplinary team approach. Co-production is an essential factor in service development, and I expect health boards to engage with people with lived experience in this process.
Plans are progressing to include pathways for ME/CFS and long-Covid in the community health pathways programme overseen by the National Clinical Lead for Health and Care Pathways Planned Care Programme. Community health pathways offer clinicians locally agreed information to make the right decisions together with patients, at the point of care. The pathways are designed primarily for general practice teams, but are also available to specialists, allied health professionals, and other health professionals.