Teen beauty spot drinkers are ramblers, not rebels
- Dave Burrows
Shropshire mother fears for her ME-stricken son after ruling
Monday 20th December 2010, 8:00PM GMT.
A Shropshire mother fears her 20-year-old son – who is bedridden with the chronic illness ME and has to be spoon fed – could die after health chiefs refused to send him for treatment at a specialist unit.
Diana Newcombe, of Clunton near Craven Arms, lost an appeal to the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust this week.
Mrs Newcombe wanted her son Oliver to receive treatment at a dedicated inpatient unit in Romford, Essex, which would cost about £5,000 a week.
But Shropshire County Primary Care Trust (PCT) is instead suggesting referral to a behavioural psychologist in Birmingham.
Mrs Newcombe said today: “I am so angry and completely at a loss as to what on earth will happen to Oliver.
“At the very least, he will cost the Shropshire health service tens of thousands of pounds during the next year or so, with doctor’s visits, healthcare, respite care, specialist help, maybe hundreds of thousands of pounds if he becomes hospital bound.
“If he dies, aged 20, from complications resulting from ME does the primary care trust imagine I will accept this lightly?”
Fatigue
ME(myalgic encephalomyelitis/encephalopathy) is a complex illness and symptoms include severe fatigue or exhaustion, problems with memory and concentration, and muscle pain.
Oliver, who was studying environmental engineering at university, fell ill with the flu about a year ago.
He remained unwell and was later diagnosed as having ME. His condition has continued to deteriorate.
Mrs Newcombe claimed there could be no reason for refusing treatment at Romford other than money.
“I think Oliver is going to die,” she said.”
Dr Julie Davies, head of contracting and performance at Shropshire County PCT said: “The panel reviewed an application to fund care at a specialist inpatient Chronic Fatigue Syndrome centre in Essex, but this type of care is not routinely funded.”
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Mrs. Newcombe, please believe me, your son, you and everybody else will benefit more from him going to a behavioural psychologist in Birmingham.
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Absolutely appauling the suggestion that a behavioural psychologist will help. M.E is an accepted illness for goodsake the UK are going backwards. Whatever next, slurs on XMRV research?
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Considering M.E is a disease of mitochondrial myopathy, viral overload and immune dysfunction – how people can say that behavioural therapies can help is beyond me, when will people learn and understand THIS IS AN ILLNESS OF VIRAL ORIGIN that affects every system and organ in the body. The poor boy needs immune modulators and likely, antivirals, not behaviour modification.
Contact me through my website Mrs Newcombe if you read this to see if I can be of any assistance.
Thinking of you and your son at this time.
http://www.cfstheresistance.com
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The behaviour of Shropshire Primary Care is absolutely appalling. Though sadly not suprising. He is very lucky to have a mum who is able to take care of his needs and fight on his behalf….Mrs Newcome don’t give up fighting for your son, I am sure you have had legal advise etc….Keep on with it, though you too should look after your health…as carers do have a very hard time too. Pschological treatments don’t work in healing an ME suffer….they in fact have been know to hinder a patient greatly….And Rodney….how can you encourage it…You have our deepest sympathy Mrs Newcome…and we wish you all the best. ME Suffers and their carers do always seem to have to fight an uphill battle in order to get proper care…
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Rodney Nosnail I believe you meant to write that everybody will benefit from going to a behavioural psychologist in Birmingham EXCEPT the poor patient who has a neurological condition recognised by the World Health Organisation.
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