24. februar 2004 

Source: National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)
Date:   February 23, 2004
URL:    http://www.nice.org.uk/pdf/PressreleaseCFSME23FEB04.pdf


PRESS RELEASE


NICE TO DEVELOP GUIDELINE ON DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC FATIGUE
SYNDROME/MYALGIC ENCEPHALOMYELITIS (CFS/ME)
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The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) welcomes the
opportunity to develop a clinical guideline on the diagnosis and
management of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
(CFS/ME). For people with CFS/ME, their carers and the health
professionals responsible for their care the guideline will offer
clear advice on what the NHS should provide, based upon the best
available evidence.

This guideline was referred by the Department of Health and the Welsh
Assembly Government, who are responsible for selecting the topics for the
NICE work programme. Full details of the process that is followed by the
Department of Health and Welsh Assembly Government when selecting topics
for NICE to consider can be found on the Department of Health's website
at: http://www.dh.gov.uk

Information about the clinical guideline, including a detailed timetable,
will be published on the NICE website at http://www.nice.org.uk as soon as
it is available.

Ends

For more information call Phil Ranson (NICE) on 020 7067 5904 and 0778
639 0068 or Steve Ryan at the Department of Health Media Centre on 020
72105226.


Notes to Editors
About NICE
1. NICE is part of the NHS. It is the independent organisation
   responsible for providing national guidance on treatments and care for
   those using the NHS in England and Wales. Its guidance is for
   healthcare professionals and patients and their carers to help them
   make decisions about treatment and healthcare. For further information
   about NICE you can visit http://www.nice.org.uk.
2. NICE produces guidance in three areas of health:
   * the use of new and existing medicines and treatments within the NHS
     in England and Wales technology appraisals
   * the appropriate treatment and care of patients with specific
     diseases and conditions within the NHS in England and Wales ­
     clinical guidelines.
   * whether interventional procedures used for diagnosis or treatment
     are safe enough and work well enough for routine use­ interventional
     procedures.
     NICE also funds four enquiries that undertake research into the way
     patients are treated to identify ways of improving the quality of
     care (the investigations are known as confidential enquiries).
3. NICE guidance and recommendations are prepared by independent groups
   that include professionals working in the NHS and people who are
   familiar with the issues affecting patients and carers.
4. This clinical guideline, together with research and service
   development, is part of the Department of Health's strategy to improve
   treatment and care for patients with CFS/ME.
   The Medical Research Council published a Research Strategy for CFS/ME
   in May 2003, and new services for CFS/ME were announced on 20 January
   2004. For further details on these new CFS/ME services see the
   Department of Health's press release 2004/0022 on the Department of
   Health website (http://www.doh.gov.uk).
5. NICE has been asked to develop clinical guidelines for CFS/ME in
   addition to its ninth work programme, announced on Tuesday 14 October
   2003. This included treatments for people with chemotherapy induced
   anaemia, and heart failure, and clinical guidance on breast and
   prostate cancer and puerperal/perinatal mental health. For further
   details on the ninth work programme see the NICE website
   (http://www.nice.org.uk).

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(c) 2004 NICE