ME patient’s consultant tells inquest staff’s unfamiliarity with condition was ‘unfortunate’

Roderick Warren, who treated Maeve Boothby O’Neill, said there was not enough evidence to establish whether illness is a physical one

A consultant who treated a woman with severe ME has told her inquest it was “very unfortunate” that hospital staff were not familiar with the condition and said there was not enough evidence to conclude the illness is a physical one.

Maeve Boothby O’Neill, who died with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome), became so ill that she was confined to bed and found it almost impossible to wash, eat or drink.