Alex Easton MLA is delighted at the news that Fibromyalgia is to be recognised by health professionals in Northern Ireland.
Speaking today Alex Easton MLA said:
“Having so many friends and a family member who suffers from Fibromyalgia, it is finally a relief to hear that this condition is finally being taken seriously. The condition causes aches all over the body, as well as profound fatigue and other symptoms include headaches, sleep deprivation and difficulty concentrating.”
“Despite the severity of symptoms, people living with the condition in NI have said their voices have gone unheard and their symptoms ignored. It is welcomed news that the Patient and Client Council in Northern Ireland three years ago pressed for the case for fibromyalgia to be recognised as a long-term condition. It is thought about one million people are living with the condition across the UK. I am now hoping that because Fibromyalgia has now been recognised that there will be an improvement in services across all the five Trusts, which are patchy as not all health trusts have the resources to target the condition specifically. While there is no specific figure for Northern Ireland, it is thought around one in 25 may be coping with symptoms – a majority of them undiagnosed, this is a welcome development and hopefully we will see much better services and treatments for sufferers of Fibromyalgia within the SE Trust.”
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