People deserve better’ is Nuneaton MP’s demand amid a cut to a vital service at the George Eliot Hospital.
CoventryLive reported that the ME Association has raised concerns about the loss of the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue (MECFS) specialist referral service at the George Eliot Hospital.
The charity claims that the NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) took the decision without warning and without any consultation, leaving those who need the services ‘in limbo’.
Some patients said they only found out about the service being stopped on social media.
Nuneaton’s MP Jodie Gosling told CoventryLive that she is ‘disappoited that no effort was made to consult with service users on this change’.
The town’s voice in Parliament said she has raised concerns with senior health bosses in a bid to secure a service for local people.
‘People in Nuneaton and across Coventry and Warwickshire deserve access to suitable healthcare close to home, as is available in other areas of the country, and it is disappointing that no effort was made to consult with service users on this change,” the MP said.
“I have already raised this with senior leaders at George Eliot Hospital and the Integrated Care Board, and I will continue to work on finding a solution for ME patients in Nuneaton, and across Coventry and Warwickshire.”
ICB statement
CoventryLive previously contacted the NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and in a statement, a spokesperson said that there are currently no specialist services but added that they are working with hospitals to see how they can be delivered in the future.
“The ICB has not changed how we fund ME/CFS services,” the spokesperson said.
“However, we acknowledge that recent changes to how these services are delivered have meant there are no specialist ME/CFS clinics currently operating in Coventry and Warwickshire.
“We are working closely with our local NHS Trusts to explore potential options for how ME/CFS services may be delivered moving forwards, with the aim of ensuring all patients in our area have equitable access to these services.
“We would like to reassure ME/CFS patients across Coventry and Warwickshire that they are still able to access a range of support for their condition, which they can be referred to via their GP.”
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