Who We Are Trying To Help

Our research officer has investigated how many people there are in the region our support group covers.

She has concluded that there are between 4,882 to 9,764 people suffering from ME/CFS in Conwy, Flint, Denbighshire and Wrexham.

These and their carers and families along with the sufferers of those with Fibromyalgia ( and their carers and family) are the people we are trying to reach.

Fiona arrived at these figures by considering the following:

ME Clwyd support group cover the local authority areas of Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conway and Wrexham. [a] This gives us a population of 488,200.00 or 16% of the total Welsh population.

According to[b] Chief Medical Officer 2002 report there is an estimate of 100,000 to 250,000 people with ME in the UK. If one uses the [c] Ellen Gouldsmits survey 2002, the stricter CDC criteria of ME/CFS gives one 1:1000 of the population where as the British criteria gives a 2% of total population.

these data sources gives our area of between 4,882.00 to 9,764.00 people suffering from ME/CFS.

One must also take into consideration the [d] 2003 Action for ME ‘Cost to the Nation’ report which found that ME/CFS may be costing the UK £3.5billion annually in medical services, social benefits and lost incomes.

Our[e] membership stands at approximately 100, the local [f] ME Clinic Connahs Quay sees 50-60 clients a year. This clearly shows the increased work we need to do to reach those affected with ME/CFS and their carers who have no knowledge of us or are isolated, stuck in bed or the house.

Data Sources:

[a] Distribution of the Population, by Age Group and by Local Authority Area; 2001 and 2005. Welsh Assembly Government.

[b]CMO CFS/ME Report 2002. www.doh.gov.uk/cmo/cfsmereport/contents.htm

[c]Dr Ellen Gouldsmits 2002 Survey. http://freespace.virgin.net/david.oxford/facts96.htmtion

[d]Action for ME ‘Cost to the Nation Report’ 2003. http://www.afme.org.uk/news.asp?newsid=20

[e] ME Clwyd Support Group Membership Lists

[f] Connah’s Quay ME Clinic