The chairman of the Youth Justice Board has responded positively to our complaint that an inaccurate classification of ME/CFS as a mental health disorder in one of their publications resulted in a potentially "disastrous" article appearing in 'Magistrate' magazine.

• Do you have ME/CFS and live in England? Are you 18 years or older?
• Are you currently receiving care from a mental health professional?
• Would you like to participate in a research project about the needs of people with ME/CFS and best practice in professional care?

 
From the Evening Express, Aberdeen, February 26

A brave postie is setting out on a mammoth two-year journey to Australia – by bike. Determined Eric Smart will cycle around 15,000 miles to celebrate his return to good health.

The return of their popular caring break for people with ME will be one of the events marking the reopening of Carberry Tower, the conference centre at Musselburgh near Edinburgh. 

From the "Golf365" website

After the stresses and strains of the Ryder Cup - and the celebrations, of course - Ian Woosnam wanted 2007 to be the year when his life returned to normal and he showed he was still a force to be reckoned with on the golf course.  

UK doctors have received a letter from the manufacturer (Cephalon) of modafinil/Provigil warning about the need to be aware of two serious side-effects that have recently been identified.

From the Cumbria News and Star, 22 February 2008

A Frizington woman hanged herself after suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome. 

Jill Moss, founder chair of the Association of Young People with ME, will be with Carlisle ME/CFS Group on Saturday, 8 March – to discuss her new book 'A Ray of Hope'.

Richmond and Kingston M.E. Group is planning a campaign to ask their primary care trust to provide a local ME clinic. They want help from local people to make their voice heard.

From the Brighton Argus, 22 February 2008. Story by Rachel Wareing.

A former City financier who lost the ability to walk is training for a 10K run after recovering his health "almost overnight". ME sufferer Maurice Humphrys endured extreme fatigue for two years, and was unable to walk or stand for six months before he undertook the Lightning Process.

Dr Des Turner, MP for Brighton Kemptown and chair of the All Party Pariiamentary Group on ME, has agreed to take part in a regional conference on ME in Hove Town Hall on Friday, September 26.

From April 2008, the national bus pass will give free off-peak bus travel anywhere in England for older and disabled people.

The Bath paediatric ME/CFS service provides local, regional and national assessment and treatment for over 150 children and young people each year. It is now open to the 'choose and book' appointment system run by the NHS.

A conference on developing a comprehensive multdisciplinary approach to treating children and young people with ME/CFS will be held at the Institute of Child Health at 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, on Friday, 16 May 2008.

Information on the Government's Blue Badge parking website has been given a major boost this month – with the parking map showing a large increase in the number of blue badge parking bays as well as lots of other features.

This is a copy of an email sent by The ME Association this afternoon to Frances Done, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board, about an article called 'Offenders or victims' which appears in the February issue of 'Magistrate' magazine.

Is it just ME?
Chronic fatigue syndrome is very real but often misunderstood, says Dr Mark Porter

Over one million pages have been read on this website since we installed a new stats counter on 7 May last year. And we remain Number 1 for 'M.E.' on the world's biggest search engine at Google – a position we have held consistently since we launched our new website in February 2007.

From the Newark Advertiser, February 1 - story by Caroline Boyd

Up to 14,000 disabled people in Nottinghamshire who have a blue parking badge could lose it under changes to the scheme.

In a letter to a constituent who lives in Sheffield, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP criticises the NICE guidelines on ME/CFS and calls for the setting up of an independent scientific committee to oversee all ME research.

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