The UK Government has unveiled an enhanced support plan for people with ME/CFS, including NHS staff training, public awareness campaigns, and up to £200,000 in grants per research project
People living with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are set to benefit from a new nationwide strategy developed in close collaboration with healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient advocates. This joint effort aims to improve recognition, care, and research, focusing on equipping NHS staff with better training, enhancing public understanding, and supporting innovation through targeted funding.
Improving ME/CFS care across the NHS
This condition affects around 390,000 people in the UK and causes debilitating fatigue, sleep problems, and difficulties with thinking, concentration, and memory. The impact varies between cases; however, severe ME/CFS can leave patients housebound or unable to work.
To transform ME/CFS care, the UK Government has published a plan outlining key areas for improvement for people living with ME/CFS in England, many of which struggle to access appropriate care. The plan will introduce new training for NHS healthcare professionals, featuring up-to-date learning resources to increase understanding and ensure signs aren’t missed. This will help combat the stigma faced by people living with ME/CFS, which stems from a lack of awareness about the condition.
Additionally, the introduction of neighbourhood health services will enable patients with ME/CFS to access care closer to home.
Minister for Public Health and Prevention, Ashley Dalton, said: “ME/CFS is a debilitating illness that can severely limit patients’ ability to participate in everyday activities, maintain employment, or enjoy family and social life.
Today’s plan aims to address the stigma and lack of awareness surrounding this condition by providing enhanced training for NHS staff.
Through our neighbourhood health services, we will ensure that patients suffering from the effects of ME/CFS can access quality care closer to home, as pledged in our 10 Year Health Plan.
Our Plan for Change is transforming how patients experience care, and this plan represents a comprehensive approach to addressing the long-standing gaps in care and support for people with these conditions, with patient access to appropriate care at its heart.”
Sonya Chowdhury, Chief Executive, Action for ME, said: “This is an important step for the ME community, long overlooked and underserved. The plan must not be a token gesture—it requires a sustained, strategic commitment to care, funding, and research. Without it, meaningful outcomes for people with ME will not be achieved.”
Increased funding for research and improved support
The final Delivery Plan on ME/CFS, published by the Department of Health and Social Care, focuses on three main areas: advancing research, improving public and professional understanding, and enhancing support for those living with the condition. It outlines commitments to boost funding and coordination of ME/CFS research, including backing for specialist centres like the Genetics Centre of Excellence and collaborative initiatives such as the PRIME project.
The plan also addresses the need to improve medical education and public awareness through tailored training and information campaigns, aiming to shift long-standing misconceptions about ME/CFS. Additionally, it seeks to enhance the day-to-day lives of people with ME/CFS by ensuring improved access to healthcare, social care, and welfare support, with a particular focus on those with severe symptoms.
The plan has been strengthened following feedback from stakeholders. It will be implemented alongside broader government strategies, with oversight from a Task and Finish Group that includes representation from leading ME/CFS charities. Overall, the plan represents a more ambitious and structured effort to address the significant challenges faced by people with ME/CFS.
