Primary care figure for ME costs & funding for ME service

Summary

The request sought primary care costs for ME and details on Treasury funding for an ME service from 2016 onwards. The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed that £90,000 was ring-fenced annually since 2017/18 but disclosed that no permanent service was established due to recruitment difficulties and COVID-19 restrictions.

Key Facts

• £90,000 was authorized by Treasury and Tynwald for ME services starting in the 2017/18 financial year with no subsequent increases.
• A Locum Consultant Neuropsychologist was appointed in November 2019 but was unable to work during lockdown due to travel restrictions.
• Recruitment for a Locum Health/Liaison Psychologist was delayed by COVID-19 restrictions until a candidate was selected in 2020.
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training was scheduled to commence in January 2021.
• The requested funds remain available and ring-fenced for the additional Locum position.

Data Disclosed

• £90,000
• 2017/18
• November 2019
• 30 hours per week
• January 2021
• 2016
• £120,000
• August 2019
• 2020-08-24
• 2020-09-17

Original Request

'Primary care figure for ME costs & funding for ME service For the Financial Years from 2016 to date please provide: 1. The primary care costs for people with ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) also sometimes known as CFS, post-viral fatigue and SIED in the USA and 2. Confirmation of the funding that has been agreed by Treasury regarding an ME service and what these funds have been used for as no service has been established. I believe Kate Beecroft secured about £90,000 in 2016 and I was expecting £120,000 a year to be agreed shortly after meeting the Minister in August 2019'.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Interim Chief Executive: Kathryn Magson Freedom of Information Team Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA

Tel: (01624) 642621 Email: dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc Our ref: 1441691 17th September 2020

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on the 24th August 2020 and states:

“Primary care figure for ME costs & funding for ME service. For the Financial Years from 2016 to date please provide: Question 1: The primary care costs for people with ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) also sometimes known as CFS, post-viral fatigue and SIED in the USA. Question 2: Confirmation of the funding that has been agreed by Treasury regarding an ME service and what these funds have been used for as no service has been established? I believe Kate Beecroft secured about £90,000 in 2016 and I was expecting £120,000 a year to be agreed shortly after meeting the Minister in August 2019”. Our response: Question 1: The primary care costs for people with ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) also sometimes known as CFS, post-viral fatigue and SIED in the USA. Finance can confirm that £90,000 was authorised as part of the annual budget process agreed by Treasury and Tynwald. This £90,000 has been put aside since the 2017/18 financial year going forward with no increases.

Question 2: Confirmation of the funding that has been agreed by Treasury regarding an ME service and what these funds have been used for as no service has been established? £90,000 funding for this service has been put in place, the difficulty has been with recruitment either permanently or a Locum. A Locum Consultant Neuropsychologist did take up appointment in November 2019, working 30 hours per week over three days and commuted to the island weekly but unfortunately was off island when lockdown was enforced. When regular flights recommence from the United Kingdom they will once again commute as a visiting Consultant. During his time here they did take referrals for CFS/ME.
Since the start of this year the Department has been looking to source a Locum Health / Liaison Psychologist to address additional referrals in addition to CFS/ME without success and then since March the Department couldn’t appoint due to COVID-19 restrictions. A suitable candidate has been selected, they have been asked if they are willing to comply with self-isolation for two weeks on their arrival following Pathway 3 exemptions. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training is now due to commence in January 2021 and applications are being sought. The funds are still available and ring-fenced to fund this additional Locum.

Please quote the reference number 1441691 in any future communications.

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I will now close your request as of this date.

Yours sincerely