County Durham & Darlington
Referral criteria to be completed by GP and routine tests completed. Request for referral go to: CFS/ME Services, St Margaret’s Health Centre, Crossgate, Durham DH1 4DS. Limited resources have restricted the level of service possible in the early days. This service initially is for people aged 16+ and domiciliary visits will not be made. Prior to consultation. patients will be asked to complete and return a detailed questionnaire to help with the assessment/diagnosis. The full therapy team are in post and will be seeing patients from the end of November 2005. Therapists will be operating from Chester le Street Hospital and The Lady Eden Unit Bishop Auckland.

North of Tyne (North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland)
Referral criteria to be completed by GP and routine tests completed. Request for referral go to: Dr Gavin Spickett, Consultant Immunologist, RVI, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 4LP. Limited resources have led to a decision in the early days that services will be restricted to new patients aged over 16+ only. No domiciliary visits will be made and all patients will be seen by a Consultant in the first instance and referred on to the therapy team as required. A review of services will be made within the first year.

South of Tyne (South Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead)
Professor Daymond, Consultant Rheumatologist is presently seeing patients in Monkwearmouth Clinic on Thursday afternoons. We understand a Physiotherapist has been appointed and the Clinical Nurse Specialist is being interviewed at the end of November. Dr Tony Wells, (Psychologist) will be giving time to the new services until a designated Psychologist is recruited. Clinic space is presently being sought in the Gateshead area. Limited Domiciliary services will be available. Referrals must be made by your GP to:
Professor Daymond, Consultant Rheumatologist, Sunderland Royal Hospital SR4 7TP.

North Cumbria
The therapy team are now seeing patients. Initial referrals have been from patients already with an ME diagnosis. A GP (with a special interest in ME) is currently being recruited. Clinics will be held in existing therapy accommodation across the area, some domiciliary visits will be made and a designated Young People’s Service is operating. For an initial referral via your GP apply to: Heather Garry, Occupational Therapist, North Cumbria CFS/ME Service. The Old Town Hall, Workington, Cumbria.

Teesside Area (Guisborough, Langbaurgh, Redcar, Middlesbrough, Stockton
and Hartlepool)
ME North East with help from Margaret Gray (Project Lead for the Durham LMDT) produced a Business Case for CFS/ME services in the Tees PCT areas. The proposal to deliver CFS/ME services similar to those in other areas of our region was presented to the Tees Commissioners at a meeting in October 2005. Consideration is being given and a decision on funding will be made early in the New Year. Would all members who wish to support this application please write to: Mrs K Brudnell, Specialist Commissioner, Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust, Riverside House, High Force Road, Riverside Park, Middlesbrough. TS2 1RH. The patient’s voice is extremely important. Should you have any problems obtaining a referral please give us a call.