Sir, It is distressing to hear about possible cuts to the Barnes Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital (Letters, May 5) and the effects on students. Most people of all ages with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ Myalgic Encephalomyelitis in Oxfordshire are not students and they all worry about any threat to hard-won specialist services.
Only last year, the Primary Care Trusts established a community service OCCMET (Oxfordshire Community CFS/ME Team), particularly for those who are not well enough to get to the JR and for children and younger people. This complements the service at the Barnes Unit for people over 16 years old who are well enough to travel. We at last have a coherent service for all sufferers in Oxfordshire.
The report of the chief medical officer in 2002 recognised the very serious nature of the illness and the devastating effects it can have on a person's quality of life and upon families and carers.
National survey evidence shows that up to 25 per cent of people with this illness are severely affected and are bedbound or housebound.
At least 70 per cent of sufferers cannot work. There is huge need for treatment and help. OCCMET treats such patients and for the first time includes provision for children and young people under 16 years. Future funding for the OCCMET service is very uncertain after 2007, so with the potential closure of the Barnes Unit, CFS/ME patients now face the possibility of having no specialist service after 2007. The huge specialist experience of health practitioners treating this complex illness would be wasted. We protest about any such cuts in Oxfordshire.
Patricia Wells, OMEGA Oxfordshire ME Group for Action, Oxford
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