Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) and fibromyalgia are long term conditions. People living with CFS/ME and fibromyalgia often have pain or extreme tiredness. There is currently no cure for CFS/ME or fibromyalgia. Doctors and nurses, including GPs, try to support people living with CFS/ME and fibromyalgia. Covid-19 has meant that most appointments with doctors and other staff in the GP surgery have been done online, or by email, video or telephone, known as a ‘remote consultation’. Many patients are happy with this, but it might not be for everyone. Some research has thought that doctors and patients might interact differently when they are not together.

We are doing this study because we believe it is important to know how people living with CFS/ME and fibromyalgia feel about having consultations remotely.

We will create advice for GP staff and people living with CFS/ME or fibromyalgia with our results.

Funded by	The Royal College of General Practitioners Scientific Foundation Board – Practitioners Allowance Grant The Claire Wand Fund
Research team members	Dr Helen Leach (Principle Investigator), Dr Helen Atherton (Chief Investigator) Dr Abi Eccles, Dr Carolyn Chew-Graham (Keele)
Collaborators (if applicable)	Keele University
Dates – from and to	September 2022 to May 2023

Enquiries:

Dr Helen Leach

helen dot leach at warwick dot ac dot uk