Bury/Bolton ME/CFS Support Group ME/CFS Clinic News

Here you can see the latest goings-on regarding the ME/CFS services. This will be updated whenever there's more news.

Bury/Bolton ME/CFS Service Update September 2011:

At our recent meeting with our M.E. Clinic team we were reassured that, despite the changes that have been happening, they are committed to giving us an excellent service, as usual. Dr. Gaber has been doing more sessions and will continue to do so whilst the other 3 therapists will still be running their usual sessions. New patients need to be referred to the Service by their G.P.

Existing patients, if they are encountering problems, may self refer back to the service by phoning the Clinic, for up to 12 months after their course of therapy has been completed. After that time they may be re-referred by contacting their G.P. This applies to both Bolton and Bury patients. At present all patients are seen at the Bolton Breightmet Clinic, except for extremely severe cases, where home visits may be arranged.

Bury/Bolton ME/CFS Service Update February 2011:

Today I have attended the 6 monthly Service Development meeting. As usual it was a very constructive meeting.
I can report that during the current absence from the Service of Dr Wright his clinical role is being undertaken by Dr Gaber, who is a Nero Rehabilitation Consultant and the clinical lead of the Ashton, Leigh and Wigan ME/CFS Service.

Dr Gaber has been closely involved with our service from the beginning and some of you may have met him when the team have come to our Support Group Meetings. All new referrals from GPs will be looked at by Dr Gaber and the initial consultation will either be with him or where the diagnosis is clear he will refer the patient directly to a member of the multi disciplinary team.

Dr Gaber has reviewed the medical notes of all the existing patients and these patients will continue to be seen by the appropriate member of the multi disciplinary team or discharged back to the care of their GP if appropriate. If any member of the team has any medical concerns about an existing patient this can easily be escalated to Dr Gaber for advice and if necessary intervention.

Current waiting times for the service are meeting the 4 weeks target and I am impressed with the ongoing commitment of the team during this difficult time. The Service will continue to run on this basis until such time as Dr Wright's position in the Service has been decided, although the timescale for this is still not known. Also remember, once you have been discharged from the Service if you need further advice or review you can always self refer back to the Service within 12 months of your discharge. After that you will need to be referred back to the Service through your GP.

Yvonne Leech

Latest News:

There is a paediatritan who takes referrals from out of area. The PCT can buy in her services if they have no existing children's service.

Dr Esther Crawley
Specialist CFS/ME Services for children and adolescents
Royal National Hospital for rheumatoid disease
Upper Borough Walls
Bath BA1 1RL
01225 473 425

If you ask your doctor to refer you to the Bury or Bolton CFS/ME Clinics, please ask for a referral to:

CFS/ME Clinic
Breightmet Health Centre
Breightmet Fold Lane
Breightmet
Bolton
BL2 6NT

Telephone: 01204 462 765

The appointments are at Breightmet Health Centre in Bolton.
We now have an in-patient bed for Bolton.

The Ashton, Wigan and Leigh Clinic is now seeing patients!. When you get referred by your GP, you will get an appointment at Leigh hospital to see Dr Gaber. They are currently looking for permanent premises to see patients. If you would like to self refer, please call Donna (admin lady) on 01942 264 321.
She will contact your GP and tell them about the service and all the necessary blood tests needed before you can be seen. The have an Occupational Therapist and Physio.
Download the Clinic Leaflet here and here

We've been advised that people who have their own clinic, e.g Bolton and Bury, shouldn't ask for referrals to North Manchester anymore, they are very overwhelmed apparently, and why travel all that way when we have our own clinics in Bolton and Bury?

The North Manchester Clinic is primarily for people in areas that don't have a clinic. Doctors SHOULD BE AWARE of the new clinics! The PCT has sent each GP/surgery 3 or 4 letters and emails, so they have no excuse! We're trying to get a poster published to put in the surgery for patients and docs should know the details.

We're also hoping to have an open day with all the people involved in obtaining the service provision. I'll keep you updated.

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The Clinics are now officially up and running! One member who has had ME for 25 years says she felt like "a new woman" and "lifted" when she left! She said she had never felt so positive! So please get a referral, if we can show there's demand for the service, they will keep it going, if not, they will close the clinics and we will be back where we started. Ask for the CFS/ME Clinic, Dr Anderw Wright, c/o Neuro Rehab Team

Greater Manchester CFS/ME Network: GO TO WEBSITE

Please note that Dr Wright cannot prescribe private treatment, such as Samento or anti-biotics, as it is not an NHS approved treatment, he can only diagnose and offer symptom control.

Dr Wright has been appointed lead physician.
He will be supported by a neuro-rehab team including physio's, occupational health, lifestyle management and others.
As many of you already know, the government has pledged Ł8.5 million for new services to be set up by the NHS for ME sufferers. The counsellor will provide specialist assessment in relation to anxiety levels, sleep disturbance and cognitive function. A programme of therapy will be delivered, according to the need.