Walsall Fibro M.E. Support

02/06/2026

📢 FREE CPD module on ME and Long Covid now updated!

Updated in April 2026 to reflect evolving biomedical understanding of ME, this highly-rated CPD-accredited module was created by Dr Nina Muirhead.

Nina says:
“One of the most common mistakes clinicians make is underestimating ME/CFS. Evidence shows there is a huge impact on the quality of life of patients and their family members. Patients have been ignored and stigmatised and those who are most severely impacted are least able to access the healthcare that they need. Scientific understanding of post-viral disease and associated symptoms and syndromes is revolutionising how patients should be treated.”

The module contains 10 clinical cases and is designed for GPs and healthcare professionals to improve their understanding of:

👉 The main diagnostic features of ME
👉 Identifying post-exertional malaise (PEM) as a key feature of ME
👉 Recognising the importance of early, accurate diagnosis
👉 Identifying conditions related to ME, such as POTs and long Covid
👉 Evaluating the needs of individuals when creating symptom management plans

With funding from the Scottish Government, we work with Nina, the ME Association and MEAction Scotland to widely promote this essential resource.

Share the the module with your GP or healthcare professional, and help improve knowledge and understanding of ME 👇
https://www.studyprn.com/p/chronic-fatigue-syndrome

Our free Learn about ME podcasts and webinars complement the module, with insight and advice from professionals and patients. Our 13th podcast is coming soon!

https://www.actionforme.org.uk/resource/professional-development-for-me/

22/05/2026

📢 New self-advocacy resource now available: Impact Statement Template.

This new resource aims to support people with ME to communicate how ME impacts them and what adjustments would best support them.

The Impact Statement Template includes instructions on how to complete it, as well as examples that you can edit.

Download this new resource on our website 👇

https://www.actionforme.org.uk/resource/impact-statement-template/

12/05/2026

Today is International Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, and many people around the world are taking part in the “Light Up for Fibro” campaign to raise awareness for Fibromyalgia.

Today is an important reminder that fibromyalgia is real, life-altering, and deserving of greater understanding, research, and support.

If you are local to one of our venues,If you’re able to take a photo of your venue lit up in purple for Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, we’d love to see it! 💜

Please email your photos to [email protected] so they can be shared as part of the Light Up for Fibro campaign.

If you share your photos on social media, don’t forget to tag Fibromyalgia Action UK and use the hashtag .hashtags:

12/05/2026

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, fatigue, and tenderness in the muscles and joints. It often coexists with other symptoms such as sleep disturbances, memory issues, and mood changes.

The condition is more commonly diagnosed in women than men, estimates suggest that women are seven more likely to be affected.
In the UK. Fibromyalgia affects approximately 5.4% of the population. This translates to an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people living with the condition.

Please join us this Fibromyalgia Awareness Day in advocating for a better future for people living with Fibromyalgia. We are still here, and our voices matter.

12/05/2026

Brilliant to wake up to good news on May 12th

12/05/2026

An estimated 404, 000 people in the UK are living with ME. It can affect anyone at any age. One in four people are housebound or bedbound, and despite the severity of the disease, it can still take years to receive a diagnosis.

While research into ME is slowly improving, we have a long way to go. The condition has one of the lowest qualities of life relative to its disease burden, yet funding into potential treatments is still very limited. In the meantime, people with ME are left in limbo.

Please join us this ME Awareness Day in advocating for a better future for people living with ME. We are still here, and our voices matter.

07/05/2026

Is there another health condition in the UK where the sicker you are the less services are available? Until there is nothing, you are severely ill and you and your family are left with no help and no support.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗘 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼, 𝗻𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗻𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱, 𝗻𝗼 𝗡𝗛𝗦 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲.

They are dying and they need help. They need a specialised service to be commissioned now!

Only one person has the power to set commissioning in motion for an NHS specialised service for the very severe, Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. This was illustrated by the DHSC ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan published in July 2025 which says, ‘DHSC, with NHS England, will explore whether a specialised service should be prescribed by the Secretary of State for very severe ME/CFS’. The start of this process has now been pushed back to April 2027.

Even if the process started today it could take 7 years to produce a service. The very severely ill can’t wait for the many years it takes to set up a new service. People need support now. The good news is that this can be set up quickly using the virtual ward model.

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 (𝗜𝗖𝗕) 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮.

A virtual ward allows patients to receive acute, hospital-level care in their own homes, care homes, or hospices rather than a hospital bed. It uses technology—such as apps, wearables, and monitoring devices—combined with regular, multidisciplinary team visits (nurses, doctors, therapists) to monitor conditions, prescribe medication, and provide treatments like oxygen or fluids.

As part of 2026 we are asking you to get in touch with your MP and ask them to lobby Wes Streeting MP during ME Awareness Week 11-17th May.

Use our Very Severe Parliamentary Advocacy Guide https://shorturl.at/uxewP, write to your MP and demand two things:

Demand that your MP lobby Wes Streeting MP and urge the immediate commissioning of an NHS specialised service for the most severely ill. Tell them that there is no NHS service for very severe ME patients to be referred to and the decision to set up this service lies with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

This service will take years to make a difference even if it is started today so, if you are in England, also ask for:

The immediate setting up of a virtual ward system and inclusion in Integrated Care Boards (ICB) Joint Forward Plans.

Your MP can lobby your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) for the immediate setting up of a virtual ward system and inclusion in their Joint Forward Plan.

If your MP is willing to help please email [email protected], we are happy to provide more information.

This campaign is aimed at getting a service set up for the very severely ill but we have not forgotten people who are mild, moderate or severe and will continue working for all people with ME throughout the year.

We have written a shorter guide for those who can't meet their MP in person and want to send them an email or meet by phone or online https://shorturl.at/pxwux.

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺, 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀, 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲.

07/05/2026

28/04/2026

Feedback your experience of the NHS app.
Does all of your information appear? For example- if you have long standing chronic health conditions, do they appear in the app?

We have just launched our latest 26/27 Work Programme project.

Do you use the NHS App? If so, why? if you don't, why not? As things move more to technology, does this technology work for you and your healthcare?
Get involved and share your experiences and views by taking part in a short survey.

Link to survey: https://tinyurl.com/mryh8v3s