{"id":38691,"date":"2023-03-17T12:40:56","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T12:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wames.org.uk\/cms-english\/?p=38691"},"modified":"2023-03-31T10:50:00","modified_gmt":"2023-03-31T09:50:00","slug":"me-cfs-and-adferiad-recovery-long-covid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wames.org.uk\/cms-english\/me-cfs-and-adferiad-recovery-long-covid\/","title":{"rendered":"ME\/CFS and Adferiad (Recovery) Long COVID"},"content":{"rendered":"

ME\/CFS and Adferiad (Recovery) services<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

People in Wales, and further afield, have been expressing concern about plans to place ME\/CFS services in existing Long COVID services. The Health Minister announced on the 14th<\/sup> March<\/a> that there would be additional funding to widen access to Adferiad (Recovery) services to<\/p>\n

\u201cbetter support people with conditions such as ME\/CFS and Fibromyalgia to get a diagnosis, manage their symptoms and access rehabilitation services\u201d.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The name confusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It is important to know that the Adferiad Recovery<\/a> programme set up by substance abuse and mental health charities is NOT the same as the Welsh Government Adferiad (Recovery) programme for Long COVID<\/a>. Each Health Board has set up a long COVID service based on common goals of the Adferiad programme which has been assessed regularly. So why do they have the same name? A VERY<\/strong> good question!<\/p>\n

Is linking ME\/CFS with other conditions a good idea?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

We have been assured many times over the years by the Welsh Government and Health Boards that there is NO money for dedicated services. It was also clear that there had also been little will within NHS Wales to champion appropriate services for ME. Whether we like it or not long COVID has shone a light on ME and many with long COVID also meet the ME criteria, boosting numbers considerably and therefore adding to the need for services. [Research suggests 40 – 54% of people with long COVID have developed ME\/CFS.]<\/p>\n

There is an overlap in both symptoms and underlying dysfunction in ME\/CFS, long COVID and Fibromyalgia. WAMES believes that people with ME triggered by COVID deserve a better service, just as people whose ME is triggered by other viruses and causes deserve to be recognised and offered services.<\/p>\n

Diagnosis<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Accurate diagnosis is where all good healthcare begins, whether that is diagnosis of a condition or acknowledgement of a symptom of unknown cause, that is disruptive to daily life.<\/p>\n

All Heath Boards tell WAMES they are encouraging use of the 2021 ME\/CFS NICE guideline in primary care. We don\u2019t know yet how successful that is.<\/p>\n

This is where you can help<\/strong><\/p>\n