1/ At least 250,000 people with chronic illnesses like #MECFS, #Fibromyalgia, #POTS and #EhlersDanlosSyndrome are currently denied thorough investigation and effective health care in the UK.
2/ This number has the potential to double after #COVID19 with many 'long-haul' patients experiencing persistent symptoms which often overlap with the abovementioned illnesses. #LongCovid
3/ More money must be invested in biomedical research into the causes and mechanisms of all chronic illness. Clearly #LongCovid gives researchers the ideal opportunity to study this, as it were, in real-time.
4/ The biopsychosocial model of health has had its day. It has held back our scientific understanding of complex diseases, and provided patients with little more than the tools to develop mindfulness and lifestyle tips.
5/ Health policy and medical education must change in a way that reflects the most up-to-date scientific understanding of these diseases. GPs must be able to order extensive testing and be free to explore different medical-based treatment options with each patient.
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