Specialist ME - CFS Clinic in Suffolk Suspended

In order to meet the needs of moderately and severely affected patients in Suffolk, a Specialist ME - CFS Service was established last summer, with care provided by Dr Nacul.  Feedback regarding this service has been very positive.

The Patient / Carer Group was contacted last week by Suffolk Commissioners and we are extremely sorry to let you know that due to unplanned and unexpected changes to circumstances, the clinic will be suspended as of April 2019.

The Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group's have released the following statement to GP's:

‘Due to a change in circumstances Dr Luis Nacul will no longer be available to deliver the ME/CFS specialist service in Suffolk from April 2019.

As a result the service will be unable to process new referrals with immediate effect but Dr Nacul will see patients who have already been referred and will ensure that all patients in the caseload are reviewed between now and the end of March 2019 and discharged with an appropriate management plan.

The CCG and Suffolk GP Federation will review options for the service going forward and will advise further on that at a later date.

We would like to thank Dr Nacul for the support he has provided and wish him well for the future.'
Any queries from Healthcare Professionals can be directed to Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG.

The Patient / Carer Group would like to add our thanks to Dr Nacul for his much valued work in Suffolk. We extend our best wishes for Dr Nacul's future endeavours, especially with the ME Biobank at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Moving Forward

 

The Patient / Carer Group has been assured that the NHS in Suffolk is still fully committed to delivery of specialist care for the unmet needs of moderately and severely affected patients. We are continuing to work with Commissioners in Suffolk to seek resolution and reinstatement of a suitable service as soon as is practicable.
 

Note

The community service provided by East Coast Community Health continues to accept referrals via your GP.  The Patient / Carer Group is in ongoing contact with the CCG's about the longstanding concerns regarding this service, especially as formal complaints to the Norfolk & Waveney CCG's made last summer remain unaddressed.


31 January 2019