For Professionals
Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a debilitating condition, and as healthcare professionals, you play a critical role in supporting the 25% of patients who are housebound or bedbound. This page provides straightforward resources to help you understand ME, recognize its severity, and manage it effectively. We’ve partnered with ME specialists to offer free online training—15 minutes long, accessible anytime—covering diagnosis, management, and care for severe cases. It’s hosted on a trusted platform (FutureLearn, via Open University) and reflects the latest NICE guidelines (NG206, October 2021). Completing it earns you a certificate, boosting your ability to help these often-overlooked patients.
You can also grab a quick-reference guide on Severe ME symptoms and management—it’s a practical tool for your practice. Plus, there’s a template letter to share this training with colleagues, spreading awareness where it’s needed most. Severe ME isn’t “just fatigue”—it’s a complex, multisystem illness with no cure, often leaving patients isolated and underserved. Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) is the hallmark: even minimal activity can worsen symptoms for days or weeks. Your understanding can prevent harm and improve lives—dive into these resources to get started.
Table of All Available Resources
Here’s a complete list of resources from the page, including all embedded links and downloadable files, with descriptions to show how they assist professionals with ME:
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
| Free Online Training Course | A 15-minute course on FutureLearn (via Open University) covering ME diagnosis, management, and care for severe cases. Free, on-demand, with a certificate. Aligns with NICE NG206 guidelines. |
| Severe ME Quick-Reference Guide | A concise PDF summarizing Severe ME symptoms and management strategies. Practical for clinical use. |
| Template Letter for Professionals | A downloadable PDF letter to send colleagues, encouraging them to take the training and raise awareness about Severe ME. |
| Press Release (Project Launch) | A PDF announcing the training initiative, providing context on its purpose and importance for professionals. |
| NICE Guidelines (NG206) | The full 2021 NICE guideline on ME/CFS, detailing diagnosis, management, and care principles. Essential reference for evidence-based practice. |
| FutureLearn Platform | The hosting site for the training course, offering additional context and registration. Useful for professionals seeking broader learning tools. |
| Open University Link | Links to the Open University’s involvement in the course, reinforcing its credibility. |