ME Foggy Dog Calls for Improved Care Standards for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Patients
On World Patient Safety Day, the UK social enterprise ME Foggy Dog is calling for urgent improvements to the safety and quality of care for individuals with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME). The organization states that ME care in the UK is fragmented and fails to meet safety standards.
UK social enterprise ME Foggy Dog is calling for urgent improvements in the safety and quality of care for individuals living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) on World Patient Safety Day 2026. The organization highlights that despite ME being classified as a noncommunicable disease (NCD) by the World Health Organization (WHO), its care in the UK remains fragmented and unsafe.
ME Foggy Dog's work has identified widespread breaches in ME care, including delayed diagnosis, harmful management advice, lack of specialist pathways, and poor communication. These failures represent serious patient safety risks and violate the NHS Charter rights to safe, effective, timely, and respectful care.
"Unsafe M.E care is avoidable harm," said Sally Callow, founder of ME Foggy Dog. "M.E patients deserve the same safety protections as every other NCD group. The NHS already has the tools and standards required to deliver safe M.E care, what’s missing is implementation."
The organization is urging the NHS to adopt ME-specific safety protocols, implement national care standards aligned with the NHS Charter, provide mandatory training for clinicians, and ensure meaningful involvement of patients and their families in care design to prevent further harm and ensure safe, person-centered care for ME patients.