When Baroness Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Heath and Social Care) divulged in her written answer of 9th June 2026 that “There are currently no plans to develop a separate specification for severe and very severe ME/CFS” it seemed an end to the possibility of a centre-created template for specialist services for those most affected by ME/CFS.
Yet, when Bill Esterson MP asked (UIN 12659)
… with reference to the action in the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan to explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed for people with very severe ME/CFS, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact on patient safety and access to appropriate care of delaying that work until April 2027; whether he will publish any such assessment; and what specific interim measures, funding and monitoring arrangements will be put in place to support patients and hold integrated care boards accountable before that date.
Sharon Hodgson MP Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Heath and Social Care) responded (largely ignoring the specific points raised) that although Integrated Care Boards have primary responsibility for provision across all levels of severity
Officials in the Department and NHS England are currently actively considering whether a specialised service for very severe ME/CFS should be commissioned by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. A final decision will not be made until after the abolition of NHS England is complete, in April 2027, when processes will be clearer. This is as a result of potential changes to the legislative process which may occur as a result of transformation in NHS England. Officials continue to progress this action as far as possible ahead of April 2027, so that work can continue at pace following the completion of transformation in NHS England. This could include convening the clinical committee ahead of time.
However, what has also been made clear that service provision which will include but not be limited to ME/CFS will available those with long Covid –
To help improve care for those living with post-infection conditions, the template service specification for mild and moderate myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), which is currently being developed in conjunction with NHS England, is set to include Long Covid. The template aims to improve pathways through care for patients with Long Covid, ME/CFS, and other related conditions.
In the meanwhile (in answer to a further parliamentary question), responsibility for provision of Long Covid services lies with Integrated Care Boards and “Where local Long Covid services are not available, people with Long Covid symptoms should see their general practitioner, who will be able to refer them to alternative existing services depending on their clinical needs and symptoms.”
