Further to our position statement on the 2021 NICE guideline update, Doctors with M.E. has joined the call for NICE to ensure that unconsulted changes are not injected, as these would avoid scrutiny by the scientific community.
DwME considers the 2021 NICE guideline to be a watershed moment in the history of ME/CFS medical care in the UK. We have signed the below letter to ensure that progress towards evidence based foundations is not lost or undermined.
The opportunity for doctors and patients to come together to develop more concordant and productive relationships is also at stake. That opportunity depends on management of the process and perceptions of it. This is particularly the case due to the controversial history of the 2007 guidelines versus the evidence base, regardless even of the prematurely short-circuited judicial review at the time. Due process must not just be adhered to, it must be seen to be equitable.
The letter has been signed by the Dr Hng Group Submission, with and on behalf of Doctors with M.E. to reflect our previous submission.
The Letter
Dear NICE,
In view of the further evidence being obtained in respect of this guideline in development and further analysis consequent on same, we consider it appropriate that there should be a further opportunity for stakeholders to comment on any revisions to the draft guideline that may result. We are therefore requesting that a draft be circulated for comment should changes result from this further consideration of evidence.
This request is being lodged on behalf of the following eight stakeholder organisations:
The 25% ME Group | Blue Ribbon for the Awareness of ME (BRAME) | Invest in ME Research | LocalME | ME-Letterforce | reMEmber – The Chronic Fatigue Society | The Young ME Sufferers (TYMES) Trust | Welsh Association of ME & CFS Support (WAMES) | Dr HNG Group Submission, with and on behalf of Doctors with M.E.
Regards,
Simon Lawrence
Chairperson
The 25% ME Group Letter to NICE, 7th June 2021
ME/CFS Guideline in Development [NG10091]