MEETING WITH DR ANDREW FOULKES, CHAIRMAN OF THE PROFESSIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF WEST SUSSEX PCT
On 10th May 2007, Jo Fisher and Janet Boniface were invited to attend a meeting with Dr Andrew Foulkes, a GP and chairman of the Professional Executive Committee for West Sussex Primary Trust. Also attending were Liz Catchpole (Patient and Public Involvement Manager for the western area of the PCT), Sue Pumphrey (Patient and Public Involvement Manager for north east area of the PCT) and Peter Lusher of the PPI Forum. This meeting resulted from the report that Peter Lusher put to the Forum after his recent visits to our group meetings at Crawley and Worthing. Thank you all for putting your points of view forward.
Dr Foulkes recognised that patients required a diagnosis but asked sufferers to accept that Fibromyalgia, like ME/CFS, is a complex condition requiring considerable investigation which needs to be observed holistically. He stressed that all musculoskeletal conditions required a multi faceted approach to diagnosis and after care, and that medical professionals must rule out other possible, potentially more serious, conditions first.
Dr Foulkes accepted that there was a general lack of knowledge of FMS throughout the NHS at both primary care (GP) and secondary care (specialist) levels. He said that this needed addressing alongside the lack of empathy and understanding that some professionals adopt with their patients. He commented that FMS patients are in the same position now that ME/CFS patients were some years ago – knowledge and acceptance of ME/CFS having improved in recent years.
Peter Lusher asked if it would be helpful for patients to be issued with a questionnaire that would supply information to medical professionals to aid diagnosis. Dr Foulkes said that in some areas this sort of approach was in place e.g. headache diary. He stressed that where patients were presenting a whole range of symptoms e.g. ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia, it was very important that the GP, in the first instance, collected information about all aspects of the patient’s life. This was likely to be time consuming and would not readily fit the accepted current appointment timings within the NHS. Widespread use of a relevant questionnaire would help with this.
Dr Foulkes informed us that the western area of the county had been developing a system of care that had been initiated in the Southampton area, as it had proved to be beneficial to sufferers. The result would be the provision of a service where people with chronic conditions could have access to a range of qualified personnel - e.g. Rheumatologists, Pain Consultants, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Cognitive Behaviour Therapists etc.
It was noted that the Expert Patients Programme was available to patients with Fibromylagia.
Summary
Through Peter Lusher’s and Dr Foulkes’ intervention, the Professional Executive Committee of the West Sussex PCT will be made aware of the issues raised concerning the care of patients with Fibromyalgia (and ME/CFS) within the NHS. Overall, recognition and diagnosis is compromised because of lack of education and understanding of the symptoms. Some doctors lack empathy which has led, in some cases, to patients not seeking their GPs advice on other health matters. Dr Foulkes expressed serious concerns about this and urged patients to seek medical advice for any new ongoing symptoms.
Result
Dr Foulkes, with the assistance of Liz Catchpole and Sue Pumphrey, would draw up an action plan to raise awareness about Fibromyalgia, including trying to identify a clinical champion. Our group would be kept informed of progress at regular stages.
Janet Boniface
Secretary
Fibromyalgia Support Group for Surrey and Sussex
17 May 2007
 
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