Disbelief and Disregard in health and social care for people with Energy Limiting Conditions (ELC) Part 1

A research project into Energy Limiting Conditions (ELC) wanted to understand the problems people experience getting the support they need from health and social care services.

Project 1: Disbelief and Disregard: The Gendered Experiences of Energy Limiting Chronic Illnesses

This project looked at the experiences of health and social care for people who identify as women, trans men and non-binary people with ELCs.

According to estimates by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), 1 in 3 disabled people in the UK experienced impairments in stamina/breathing/fatigue.

These experiences are shared by people living with a range of conditions, including neurological, musculoskeletal, and auto-immune diseases, ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly increased this population.

Watch this summary of experiences

They found that many face discrimination, often in the form of not being listened to or believed.

This is compounded by other forms of discrimination such as sexism, racism, transphobia, homophobia and fatphobia.

Disbelief and disregard in interactions with healthcare professionals has significant negative impact on all areas of people’s lives.

Disbelief and disregard: psychological harms

Disbelief and disregard project website