UTV Life Broadcast
A Reply by Jo Calder

Ken Hull did not advocate CBT and GET as treatments for ME, during his UTV interview. Those who want the facts will find a transcript of the programme at http://nimea-ni.blogspot.com and on this web site

NIMEA opposed psychiatric management of ME in its submission to the Belfast CMO in November, and were among the first of the UK ME charities to reject the main NICE recommendations, (see the NIMEA blog). But some of our critics aren’t really interested in facts.

Ulster ME charities who attack the BCH CFS clinic are hypocritical. All of them have members who attend that same clinic in large numbers. In fact, there is always a waiting list. NIMEA itself has members who are strongly opposed to the siting of the clinic within Windsor House, some who don’t mind, and some who fall between.
We are a mature organization; we respect diversity of opinion; and we responsibly reflect the full spectrum of views within our membership. The decision to attend, or not to attend the BCH clinic is one for the patient. NIMEA fully respect and defend the rights of individual patients to make their choices. There are other advocates who seem to want to impose their own preferences on the entire ME community.

We do receive complaints about the BCH clinic, but none about the Senior Occupational Therapist in charge of treatment. Many NIMEA patient members have warm praise for her. We have independent evidence that friendliness and mutual respect are the hallmarks of her relationship with her ME clients. She is the only NHS-funded specialist for ME in Northern Ireland. She is a valuable asset, and we need many more NHS staff like her. She has our full support.

Jo Calder,
Administrator,
NI MEA