A DOCTOR is campaigning for a change in attitudes towards a devastating illness, which can leave sufferers unable to walk.

Southend Hospital consultant physician Dr Tony Collings wants to tackle the stigma surrounding chronic fatigue syndrome or ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis).

Dr Collings runs an Essex-wide service based at the Tyrells Centre, in Benfleet, where more than 800 patients have come for help in the three years it has been running.

He said: "People find it hard to accept ME because there is nothing to see. But it's very real and can be quite devastating.

"Although some patients manage to hold down jobs, others are totally bed-bound and need full-time care."

The service, which also runs from Colchester, was originally funded by a £6million grant from the Government's Department of Health, and has now been taken over by Essex's primary care trusts.

Despite its success, Dr Collings, whose interest in the condition comes from previous work in stroke rehabilitation, believes more people would get involved if there was greater awareness that help is available.

The condition often affects high achievers, as well as people with obsessional personalities, which has led to sceptics to dub it yuppie flu.

Because there is no drug treatment for people with ME, patients at the centre instead receive physiotherapy, occupational therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy as part of counselling. Most make a 50 to 90 per cent recovery.

Dr Collings added: "Unfortunately, many serious cases don't get treated because we don't have enough staff to provide therapy in their homes."

But Southend Hospital has said it is now working with St Bart's Hospital, in London, to try to get such a service up and running.

For more information on the disease, call the service in Benfleet on 01268 799760, ext 242.