Includes failures in professional training, education, knowledge, competence assurance or clinical understanding specifically concerning ME/CFS and its treatment, including severe ME, where the deficiency can impair recognition, support or care.
What is not included
Excludes generic medical training or competence deficiencies where ME/CFS is not the material clinical condition.
Excludes failures in ME/CFS service availability, commissioning, research or implementation of clinical guidance where professional competence is not the deficient control.
Excludes failures in treatment, diagnosis or access to care after professionals have demonstrated adequate ME/CFS competence, unless the competence process itself is also deficient.
Excludes patient or public awareness concerns that do not concern the competence of healthcare professionals providing ME/CFS care.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department of Health and Social Care2
Medical Research Council1
Medical Schools Council1
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence1
National Institute for Health and Care Research1
NHS England1
Ministerial department2
Education sector body1
Executive non-departmental public body1
Other public body1
Sub-organisation1
Reports and published responses 2 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Avon
Concerns raised1
Lack of professional understanding and training about ME
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Department of Health and Social Care
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Develop and publish ME/CFS guidance recommending assessment and skills for specialist services.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Support development and publish e-learning materials consistent with ME/CFS guidance on the NICE website.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Commission and publish a Clinical Knowledge Summary on ME/CFS for primary-care professionals.
Department of Health and Social Care
Work with NHS England to develop e-learning for healthcare and other professionals on ME/CFS.
Department of Health and Social Care
Continue promoting ME/CFS e-learning through professional, sector and representative networks and targeted communications.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
Education and training about ME/CFS are the responsibility of professional colleges and the NHS.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
Concerns raised1
Extremely limited doctor training on ME/CFS treatment, especially severe ME
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Department of Health and Social Care
Medical Schools Council
NHS England
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Medical Schools Council
Share the NHS England e-learning package on ME with medical schools.
Department of Health and Social Care
Develop an e-learning course on ME/CFS for healthcare professionals with NHS England.
NHS England
Publish an introductory e-learning module covering ME/CFS causes, diagnosis and management.
NHS England
Develop two further ME/CFS e-learning modules covering primary-care management and severe ME/CFS management in secondary care.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.5
Medical Schools Council
The Medical Schools Council cannot compel medical schools to change curricula or require particular content to be delivered.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Medical Schools Council
The GMC regulates and quality assures undergraduate medical education, including the relevant curriculum standards.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Medical Schools Council
Postgraduate medical education and training are outside the Medical Schools Council’s responsibility.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Medical Schools Council
The GMC regulates postgraduate training, while medical Royal Colleges develop specialty and general practice curricula and assess specialist knowledge.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Department of Health and Social Care
NHS England, NICE and the Medical Schools Council will address concerns falling within their respective areas of competence.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.