Support groups which have joined forces to campaign for improvements to ME and Fibromyalgia services in Berkshire are now appealing to the public for their help.
The Reading Area ME Support Group, the West Berkshire ME and FM Group and the Reading Fibromyalgia Support Group, believe that an increase in public support will really make a difference to their campaign.
They have organised a petition as well as encouraging people to write to their MPs to ask them to ensure that appropriate provisions are made for the diagnosis, management and treatment of ME and FM on the NHS within Berkshire.
Eileen Shoosmith from the Reading Area ME Support Group said: “We have been campaigning for ME and FM services in Berkshire for a number of years now and we have not got any”.
“Clinics have been set up in other areas of the country however, but our Primary Care Trust was not successful so it is important that we gain as much local support for the services as possible in order to help back the PCT when they next try again”.
“The services we are campaigning to get set up are vital and will go a long way to offering relief to those people living with either of the conditions”.
The groups held talks with the Berkshire West Primary Care Trust last month with regards to restarting the pilot service for ME and FM sufferers that fell through earlier in the year due to staff shortages.
Commissioners from the PCT will soon meet the groups to discuss the possible future services as well as liaising with Berkshire East PCT who are currently involved in a Needs Assessment of the area.
ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a neurological and multi-system condition characterised by a host of symptoms including extreme fatigue and muscle or join pain.
Fibromyalagia Syndrome is also a neurological condition with very similar symptoms although muscle or joint pain is usually the most dominant.
There are in estimated 1,000 – 2,000 people suffering from ME in Berkshire as well as 3,500 – 22,500 Fibromyalagia sufferers.
To get involved in the campaign, please click here, thanks.
The Reading Area ME Support Group, the West Berkshire ME and FM Group and the Reading Fibromyalgia Support Group, believe that an increase in public support will really make a difference to their campaign.
They have organised a petition as well as encouraging people to write to their MPs to ask them to ensure that appropriate provisions are made for the diagnosis, management and treatment of ME and FM on the NHS within Berkshire.
Eileen Shoosmith from the Reading Area ME Support Group said: “We have been campaigning for ME and FM services in Berkshire for a number of years now and we have not got any”.
“Clinics have been set up in other areas of the country however, but our Primary Care Trust was not successful so it is important that we gain as much local support for the services as possible in order to help back the PCT when they next try again”.
“The services we are campaigning to get set up are vital and will go a long way to offering relief to those people living with either of the conditions”.
The groups held talks with the Berkshire West Primary Care Trust last month with regards to restarting the pilot service for ME and FM sufferers that fell through earlier in the year due to staff shortages.
Commissioners from the PCT will soon meet the groups to discuss the possible future services as well as liaising with Berkshire East PCT who are currently involved in a Needs Assessment of the area.
ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy), also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a neurological and multi-system condition characterised by a host of symptoms including extreme fatigue and muscle or join pain.
Fibromyalagia Syndrome is also a neurological condition with very similar symptoms although muscle or joint pain is usually the most dominant.
There are in estimated 1,000 – 2,000 people suffering from ME in Berkshire as well as 3,500 – 22,500 Fibromyalagia sufferers.
To get involved in the campaign, please click here, thanks.
