THE case of Gemma Maisey, branded a school phobic when she is clearly ill, and threatened with legal action if she does not attend school, is the tip of the iceberg because most are too traumatised to speak out.
With no co-ordinated national policy, inappropriately qualified and often totally medically unqualified, people make decisions which not only make life hell for genuinely ill people but create huge distress for their families by acting in other than the child's best interests, for example, school attendance figures and clearing up caseloads.
If they don't have a sympathetic, understanding GP to support them it can and too often does end up with social services, supported by police, on the doorstep (ironically when there are genuinely needed cases going unattended), the child taken away, the parents wrongly accused of encouraging the child to be ill.
It happens all too often in children with ME. Esther Rantzen has been highlighting the problem for more than a decade. It is disgraceful that it still goes on.
(Dr) JOHN H GREENSMITH
North Street
Downend
Bristol
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