THE Royal Preston Hospital is at the centre of a row over treatment of the debilitating condition ME.

The hospital's immunology clinic has been accused of phasing out drug treatment of the condition, which is also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, following the retirement of a consultant who has treated local sufferers.

Patient Christine Archer, of Chorley, believes that she and other patients are being left to fend for themselves.

But South Lancashire Health Authority has denied that the hospital is turning away patients, claiming that methods of tackling ME are being reviewed and there are no plans to scrap treatment.

A founder member of the Chorley and South Ribble ME support group, Christine said that many sufferers are now being referred to their local GP. She added that some doctors are unable or unwilling to treat ME patients because of the mystery surrounding the condition.

She said: "Some GPs seem to understand the condition but the majority don't. Because you go in with a mixture of symptoms it's difficult to diagnose and some GPs think you're a hypochondriac."

Nobody knows what causes ME, which leaves sufferers prone to general fatigue, muscle pain and neurological problems such as memory loss, nausea and mood swings.

But Dr Su Sethi, a public health physician for South Lancashire Health Authority, said: "The consultant who used to provide the service at Royal Preston Hospital did so because he had a special interest in ME.

"Management of the clinic's previous patients is currently being reviewed in accordance with a Royal College report published in 1996 which questions the effectiveness of the drug treatment provided.

"There is an intention to set up a service for ME sufferers as outlined in accordance with that report. We have to consider the resources we have available against our priorities. But we are aware of the need and demand for such a service and it is very much on our agenda."

Glyn Gregory, chairman of the Chorley support group, said: "It makes me ill to think I can't do anything. There's nowhere else to go for advice now."

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