The National M.E. Centre - Caring for People with CFS / ME

The National ME Centre is based in the Disablement Services Centre (DSC) at the Old Harold Wood Hospital Site, Romford, Essex.

In the early 1990's, Dr Betty Dowsett (microbiologist) and Professor Leslie Findley (neurologist) were concerned by the growing number of patients they were seeing who were being diagnosed with CFS/ME and by the lack of guidance and support available to those patients. They employed a manager (Karen Walsh) and the NMEC was ‘born’.

In November 1992, charitable status was granted and a Board of Trustees appointed.

The Centre grew as funding became available and was staffed by a full time manager, a part-time administrator, fundraiser, occupational therapist, three specialist support workers and volunteers Ð they worked alongside three consultants.

The Centre offered a unique blend of help, care and support to sufferers and their families. It was a fully integrated service for the management of this complex illness. The multi-disciplinary team included professional clinicians and therapists, ie occupational therapist, physiotherapist, nutritionist, and counsellor. The team also included three specialist support workers.

Since February 2007 the Centre no longer has a paid manager and the clinical service was suspended in May 2007. Occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nutritional input and counselling is still available to patients with a diagnosis.

The three specialist support workers are currently working voluntarily and continue to offer advice, support and information by appointment. A telephone service continues between 11.00 -1.00 pm on Monday and Thursday.

It is unlikely that an integrated service will be resumed in the foreseeable future.

Partnership with the NHS

Professor Findley is senior neurologist at the Essex Neurosciences Unit of the Havering Hospital NHS Trust based at Queens Hospital, Romford, Essex. Within this NHS unit Professor Findley works closely with a dedicated holistic fatigue team, not only with out-patients but also providing a much needed inpatient service for severe patients. Further information see www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk/cfs.

The Centre continues to maintain links with the Queens Hospital Fatigue Service. It is however administratively totally independent.

The routine clinical services at the National ME Centre ceased in May 2007 following the retirement of the consultants working for the Centre. Also the financial situation is such, that we cannot offer the general service which we were offering previously for those referred with CFS/ME.

If input or treatment is required, our advice is that patients are referred by their family doctor as out-patients, either to a local service or to: Professor L J Findley, Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Director - Fatigue Service Barking, Havering & Redbridge NHS Trust at the Essex Neurosciences Unit, Queen's Hospital, Rom Valley Way, Romford, Essex. RM7 0AG.

In the most severe and disabling cases the management may take the form of an in-patient programme. There are 8 NHS designated beds at Queens Hospital. (www.bhrhospitals.nhs.uk/cfs)