Information posted by the ME Association
MINUTES OF LAST FORWARD ME GROUP MEETING
The minutes for the last meeting of the FORWARD ME Group, which was held =
at the House of Lords on 24 November 2009, are now available on the =
group's website.
The main topic was a presentation from Dr James Bolton, Deputy Chief =
Medical Adviser at the DWP, on a range of benefit issues. =20
This was followed by questions relating to specific problems faced by =
people with ME/CFS concerning:
a.. ESA and the 2010 independent review of how this new work-related =
benefit is working=20
b.. ICB change over to ESA starting in 2010 =20
c.. Introduction of medical 'fit notes'=20
d.. DLA=20
e.. Training of medical staff who carry out assessments for the DWP=20
f.. Problems with ATOS staff and how to make a complaint=20
g.. Permitted work rules =20
The minutes contain a detailed account of this part of the meeting.
Other topics covered during this meeting included:
a.. Research Workshop organised in November by the MRC Expert Group on =
ME/CFS=20
b.. Tissue bank and post mortem tissue bank feasibility study=20
c.. XMRV research=20
d.. APPG Inquiry into NHS Service Provision for people with ME/CFS=20
e.. CCRNC membership=20
f.. Lightning Process=20
g.. Welfare Reform Bill=20
h.. Future membership of the Group
CORRESPONDENCE RELATING TO INSURANCE COMPANIES AND ME/CFS, INCLUDING DoH =
CLASSIFICATION OF ME/CFS
The FORWARD ME Group website (minutes section) also has a copy of some =
Department of Health correspondence, initiated by the Countess of Mar, =
concerning the way in which insurance companies may view ME/CFS =
following the outcome of the NICE judicial review back in February this =
year. This DoH/ABI correspondence specifically relates to an insurance =
industry website posting that the MEA brought to the attention of the =
Countess of Mar earlier this year.=20
In the DoH letter to the Association of British Insurers it is stated =
quite firmly that: The Department of Health fully accepts the World =
Health Organisation classification of ME/CFS as a neurological condition =
of unknown cause
This is useful information for anyone who is in dispute over an =
insurance issue and the way ME/CFS is classified.
FORWARD ME WEBSITE:
The MEA would like to thank the Countess of Mar for all the time and =
effort she has spent this year on trying to help people with ME/CFS
MEA website: http://www.meassociation.org.uk
ENDS
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