{"id":47587,"date":"2025-11-09T22:59:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T22:59:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wames.org.uk\/cms-english\/?p=47587"},"modified":"2025-11-09T23:06:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-09T23:06:08","slug":"services-open-to-all-with-me-cfs-in-s-e-wales-abuhb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wames.org.uk\/cms-english\/services-open-to-all-with-me-cfs-in-s-e-wales-abuhb\/","title":{"rendered":"Services open to all with ME\/CFS in S.E. Wales (ABUHB)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Symptom Management Service in Aneurin Bevan UHB<\/strong><\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) provides services to Torfaen, Caerphilly, Newport, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire.<\/p>\n

Since April 2025 they have been offering a full-blown Symptom Management service for people with ME\/CFS, long COVID, Fibromyalgia and other post-viral illnesses.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/h3>\n

This is what they have told WAMES about the service:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Who?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

“The Symptom Management service will support people and their family\/carers at all ages and all stages of their condition to understand and manage symptoms that they may be experiencing” – both adults and children from mild to very severe. The adult service is open to people over 16.<\/p>\n

ABUHB’s view of\u00a0 ME\/CFS?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"The Recovering from Illness paediatric service<\/strong><\/a> webpages tells Education providers<\/a> about common symptoms young patients experience but does not include the key characteristic of ME\/CFS: Post Exertional Malaise\/ Post Exertional Symptom Exacerbation PEM\/PESE). <\/strong>Instead they say that energy batteries reduce in size when ill or in pain, and if children rest too much they may become deconditioned and exerience ‘boom and bust’.<\/p>\n

This contradicts the NICE guideline 1.2<\/a> which says that all 4 symptoms (PEM, debilitating fatigue, cognitive difficulties and unrefreshing sleep\/sleep disturbance are found in children, as well as adults, and needs careful management. Deconditioning is not an inevitable part of ME\/CFS.<\/p>\n

The Symptom Management Service<\/strong> web pages for adults<\/a> define ME\/CFS as “an energy-limiting, long-term condition characterised by a range of symptoms, with one of the main characteristics being post-exertional malaise\u00a0 or PEM, which is “a worsening of all symptoms which can be triggered immediately by any form of exertion (physical, emotional, cognitive or sensory) or may be delayed by an onset of 24-72 hours.”<\/p>\n

Referral?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Services accept referrals from any health care professional, and people can also self-refer by form, telepone or email, receiving help to complete the process, if necessary.<\/p>\n

Self-Referral forms<\/a> \u00a003330 415379\u00a0 \u00a0 Abb.symptommanagementservice@wales.nhs.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

ME\/CFS is “an energy-limiting, long-term condition”\u00a0<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Time limit?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

No. People can access the service as and when they need via self-referral forms so is centred around the person’s needs.<\/p>\n

Who staffs the Services?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Consultant (Infectious Diseases)
\nPaediatrician
\nOccupational Therapists
\nPhysiotherapists
\nPsychologists
\nExercise Professionals including National Exercise on Referral (NERS)<\/p>\n

What happens once my application is accepted?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Adult Service does not diagnose, confirm diagnoses or take on medical management of participants, but they ‘support and navigate on-going medical support with other services within the organisation to ensure appropriate care is provided.’<\/p>\n

You can choose<\/a> to have an assessment at any point, or simply use the information on the webpages, and attend conditions and\/or management sessions.\u00a0 There is a one and a half hour introduction to ME\/CFS.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The service is designed to:<\/p>\n