From Third Sector magazine

Disability Now, the magazine published by Scope, has appointed its first disabled editor. Ian Macrae has been recruited from the BBC, where he was executive producer and editor of the Disability Programmes Unit.

From the Reading Chronicle, September 13

A singer-songwriter whose music has helped her cope with ME is celebrating success in a national competition. Sam Shearsmith, of west Reading, finished in the top 20 of The UK Songwriting Contest with "Life's Like This".

From Third Sector magazine, September 20 

The Office of the Third Sector is urging voluntary groups to send nominations for the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2008.

From 'The Weekly News', September 22

by Bill Gibb, Health Reporter 

Vikki George tells how a battle against ME left her bedbound in a darkened room and only able to eat baby food.

I'm 24 and have had severe ME, which has put my life on hold for the past six years. I am better now, and able to study and work part-time, but I can't seem to shake off the sense of bitterness that the chance to enjoy life was stolen from me at such a young age....

Read more

From the 'Daily Telegraph', 17 September 2007
by Laura Donnelly, Health Correspondent 

The Government is being urged to launch a fresh crackdown on "sick-note Britain' by ordering extra checks before doctors sign patients off work. 

The ME Association's online response in the British Medical Journal to the publication of the NICE guidance on the diagnosis and management of ME/CFS was the only letter selected for publication on the subject in this week's print edition of the journal.

The text appears below: 

BBC Online today

US researchers have produced compelling evidence linking chronic fatigue syndrome to a stomach virus.
The researchers examined 165 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome - also known as M.E. (myalgic encephalitis) - and long-standing gut complaints.

The ME Community is not the only group having major problems with NICE guidance at the moment.
 
Excellent letter in the current issue of British Medical Journal:

Read the letter here.

Dr Charles Shepherd
The ME Association

NICE GUIDELINE ON ME/CFS - STATEMENT BY THE ME ASSOCIATION BOARD OF TRUSTEES

This is a brief summary of key issues that were discussed at The ME Association Board of Trustees meeting held in Buckingham on Thursday 30 August 2007 and at an informal meeting of trustees the night before.
 

A TINGLING down her side was Pam Clay's first sign that years of painful muscles and crippling tiredness was over.