12 May, International ME Day - Scottish Parliament: 11th May 2017

12 May, International ME Day - Scottish Parliament: 11th May 2017 is a Members' Business debate in Scottish Parliament acknowledging May 12th as "International ME Day". Gail Ross, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, introduced the debate. Several MPs spoke for over 30 minutes about the problems with diagnosing Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) due to the many symptoms, the trivializing name of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), health of ME suffers, negative experiences of people with ME/CFS from healthcare professionals and the general public, the need for better GP care for adolescents and adults, Millions Missing protests on May 12th and the connection to the date with Florence Nightingale, the incorrect diagnosis of a psychiatric condition and the history of psychiatry misapplied to the disease and more.

Proclamation
"That the Parliament acknowledges that 12 May 2017 marks the international awareness day for myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), which is commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome; understands that ME is often labelled as a "silent" illness but can bring great mental and physical exhaustion to those living with it; believes that over 20,000 adults and children in Scotland have the condition and that the effects include cognitive impairment, poor short-term memory, muscle and joint pain, gastrointestinal problems and food intolerance; commends the work of the various charities across Scotland and beyond in highlighting the circumstances faced by people with ME, and commends them on the support that they offer."

Speakers

 * Gail Ross - Caithness, Sutherland and Ross 00:35
 * Emma Harper - South Scotland 09:11
 * Brian Whittle - South Scotland 14:35
 * Anas Sarwar - Glasgow 18:57
 * Alison Harris - Central Scotland 24:02
 * Aileen Campbell - Clydesdale 28:20

Parliament TV recording

 * 12 May, International ME Day - Scottish Parliament: 11th May 2017