2019 ME Clinic Announcement

It is important to note that while the Patient & Client Council N.I. feature image references the establishment of an ME clinic for Northern Ireland in 2019, the service never became operational.

After eight years of sustained advocacy and engagement with the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), Hope 4 ME & Fibro NI successfully pressed for the recruitment of an M.E. Clinical Lead — a long-fought milestone that finally acknowledged the urgent need for specialist M.E. services.

However, despite this breakthrough, no ME services were ever commissioned, and the appointed Clinical Lead eventually moved on without the opportunity to establish the clinic that so many had worked towards.

For the advocates and volunteers within the charity — many of whom are themselves severely ill with ME — this was a devastating blow. They had poured years of energy, limited health, and personal sacrifice into helping the system understand and act on the needs of this forgotten patient group.

To reach the point of success, only to have the promised service quietly abandoned, was another example of the shameful way in which people with ME continue to be dismissed and let down by the Northern Ireland healthcare system.

Some campaigners spoke openly about feeling they could no longer continue, having worked far beyond their physical capacity for an outcome that never materialised. Yet, even in deep disappointment, the charity refused to give up. This setback became another chapter in a much longer struggle — a reminder that recognition means little without action, and promises mean nothing without delivery.

A second attempt at recruitment was set in late 2019 but was cancelled last minute, due to Sally Burch bringing it to the attention of HSCB, that a senior consultant member of the interview panel, was confused in the role and job description criteria. No further attempts to establish dedicated M.E. services have been undertaken to date. (November 2025)

We wish to acknowledge the efforts of our then trustee Sally Burch, who undertook specialist training, provided by the Health & Social Care Board (HSCB) to be part of the new M.E. Clinical Lead recruitment interview process in 2018.

Dating this article - 8 years after - the successful recruitment of an M.E. Clinical Lead for Northern Ireland. (To be continued.....)