Help sought for ME sufferers

Chronic fatigue patients constantly battle tiredness

A leading expert in the debilitating illness ME says treatment facilities in Cornwall fall well behind other parts of the country.

A bid is being launched for a share of new government money to set up a specialist service in the county.

But in Devon, a new course is being opened for ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis) sufferers.

The illness, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, causes extreme tiredness.

The campaign for improved diagnosis and treatment in Cornwall is being led by Professor Tony Pinching, a consultant immunologist.

Medical students could be trained to spot ME symptoms

Professor Pinching, who is also the Associate Dean of the Peninsula Medical School, said guidance must be available for GPs so the symptoms of ME are spotted early.

"Within the Peninsula Medical School we can build ME into the undergraduate training programme, not only for our own medical students, but also for other health professionals we are working with."

The ME course in Devon, meanwhile, is being run at the Bridge Complementary Health Practice in Barnstaple.

It offers ME sufferers the chance to share their experience and find out how to improve their health.

Alternative therapies

Although thousands of people complain about the illness, GPs do not offer any special treatment, and often suggest alternative therapies.

Organiser Gill Westcott said there were ways to get better.

"One element in ME and other conditions which involve feeling fatigued seems to be that people's bodies are sensitive to chemicals in the environment and to certain foods," she said.

"Adding drugs, therefore, can be the worse thing to do because the body goes into a further state of shock and that's not a viable route for some people."