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Motion · S6M-17458 · 6 May 2025

ME Awareness Week 2025

Lodged by Annie Wells Members' Business Motion 40 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament notes that ME Awareness Week runs from 12 to 18 May 2025 and aims to raise awareness of the need for greater investment in care and support for people with ME, including through #MEAction Scotland’s Missing Millions rally outside the Scottish Parliament on 14 May; welcomes the reported announcement of £4.5 million in the Scottish Budget to fund specialist support for long COVID, myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) and similar conditions; understands that, despite over an estimated 58,000 people across Scotland, including in Glasgow, having ME, there are virtually no specialist ME services in Scotland, except in NHS Lothian; further understands that NHS Fife has been unable to replace the only specialist ME nurse in Scotland due to a lack of suitably skilled and experienced candidates; notes the view that it is important to expand services committed to following the 2021 ME/CFS NICE guidance, which includes key recommendations relating to diagnosis, management and specific care for those with severe ME, as well as children and young people with the condition; further notes the updated 2024 NHS board survey, which aimed to understand the barriers to, and opportunities from, implementing the updated NICE guidance and identify how NHS boards can best be supported to create ME/CFS specific care in the future; understands that the report indicated that awareness of the 2021 guidance among NHS boards had not been converted into implementation of the recommendations due to a lack of resource, capacity, pathways and training; notes the view that there is a need for appropriate training of healthcare professionals to ensure that they can offer appropriate, effective support to people with ME; further notes the view that the involvement of patients and third sector organisations across Scotland in the design and delivery of new services supported by this new funding is essential, and commends the volunteers and campaigners striving for better ME services for their continued efforts.

Supporters (40)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.