Thread by @unreal_arthur

1/9 Yes. The MOD have updated their recruitment criteria, here's a thread on the recent changes regarding #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis... it's shocking! 🧵

https://twitter.com/theipaper/status/1866403056595738832

2/9 The MOD uses the 'Joint Service Manual of Medical Fitness' to determine who is fit and unfit for recruitment. A recent FOl request in October 2024 here, , requested an up to date copy. The MOD replied in November 2024.whatdotheyknow.com/request/jsp_95…

3/9 This appears to be the current MOD Joint Service Manual of Medical Fitness, JSP 950 Lft 6-7-7 (v3.0 Aug
24) Effective from 1000Z 15 Aug 24: whatdotheyknow.com/request/jsp_95…

4/9 This appears to be an older version that is no longer in use, JSP 950 Lft 6-7-7 (v2.4 Oct 22) Effective from 1000Z 18 Oct 22, which I have used for comparison: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/655f7425…

5/9 These are the main changes, the old version states 'pre-entry', "Candidates diagnosed as suffering from [CFS] or the group of associated disorders e.g. (FM), (ME), (PVFS), are UNFIT." The new version states "Candidates are FIT provided they meet all the following criteria..."

6/9 ... current criteria: "a. The condition lasted no longer than twelve months and symptoms have resolved for at least two years, b. There are no ongoing symptoms ... , c. They are undertaking activities compatible with military training and service for more than three months.

7/9 This is the shocking part! Both the old and new versions contain this text under 'in-service', "Cognitive behavioural therapy and graded exercise therapy have been shown to be of definite benefit, with pacing of possible benefit."

8/9 Both documents reference this NHS Plus document from 2006: nhshealthatwork.co.uk/images/library…

9/9 Finally, the most shocking part is that the old document, which was active in 2022 had this following passage from, "Professor Simon Wessely":

@MEAssociation @actionforme @ABrokenBattery @PaulRKeeble @ThereForME_UK @KarenLHargrave @oonagh_cousins @RFH1955 @MEAdvocatesIre @Dan_Wyke @long_covid @LongCovidAdvoc @LongCovidSOS @AaronCa11 @davidtuller1 @_NatashaDevon @RoryStewartUK @wendychambLD @AdrianRamsay @PutrinoLab

@threadreaderapp Unroll

It appears that this is a long running story...

google.com/search?q=%22mi…

This article states under 'conflicts of interest', "Prof Peter White is an unpaid member of the Independent Medical Experts Group, which advises the UK Ministry of Defence regarding its Armed Forces Compensation scheme."
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC88…