Guardian columnist highlights accounts of neglect from people living with ME/CFS
George Monbiot says testimonies gathered from people with ME/CFS reveal a pattern of abandonment and dismissal within the healthcare system.
Guardian columnist George Monbiot has highlighted a wave of testimonies from people living with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome), describing what he characterises as a pattern of neglect and dismissal within the healthcare system.
According to Monbiot's column, he requested accounts on the social media platform Bluesky from people with ME/CFS about their recent experiences of treatment, and received a large volume of responses describing difficulties accessing care. Quoted testimonies included descriptions of feeling "completely abandoned", facing waiting lists reported to be as long as ten years for treatment, and feeling "unheard" or "invalidated" by healthcare providers.
A condition described as severely under-recognised
ME/CFS is a chronic condition that can cause extreme fatigue along with a range of physical and cognitive symptoms, and in severe cases can significantly limit a person's ability to work, socialise or carry out daily activities. Monbiot's column argues that despite changes in clinical guidance and scientific understanding over time, the practical impact on the lives of many patients has remained limited.
The column is presented as opinion journalism reflecting testimonies gathered informally by the author rather than a clinical study, and it does not claim to represent a scientifically representative sample of patient experiences.
Part of a broader conversation
The piece adds to an ongoing public conversation about how chronic and poorly understood conditions are recognised and treated within healthcare systems, and about the barriers that can prevent patients from receiving consistent, empathetic care. It does not detail specific policy proposals or institutional responses to the concerns raised.
Sources
- Abandoned, dismissed and gaslighted: there is no excuse for the way ME sufferers have been betrayed | George Monbiot — The Guardian — Opinion
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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