Will the Welsh Government commit to appointing an All-Wales Clinical Lead for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS)?
Support for people with infection-associated chronic illness, including ME/CFS, and those with similar or overlapping persistent physical symptoms but no diagnosis, is available in every health board through Adferiad (Recovery) funded services. These services continue to be supported by £8m Welsh Government investment.
My officials and I continue to work with stakeholders and partners, including people with lived experience of infection-associated chronic illness and the organisations that represent them. These discussions are helping to shape the future development of services, and have included proposals around clinical leadership, a national strategy, quality standards, and education and training.
Investment in Adferiad services has helped develop support for people with a range of associated and overlapping conditions, where very little previously existed in Wales. It has also helped build clinical expertise. I recognise the challenges people face and that there is more to do, but we now have a stronger foundation on which further improvements can be built. Co-production remains central to our approach, and I expect health boards to continue putting people with lived experience at the heart of service development.
Although recommendations in the Prevention of Future Deaths Reports are not directed to Welsh Government, I recognise the importance of embedding the learning from these tragic deaths. Officials have recently discussed findings from relevant reports with health boards, and this learning will inform future developments to ensure people in Wales receive appropriate, safe, and compassionate care.