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

Maeve Boothby O’Neill, who died at 27, suffered with ME/CFS which was severe for several years and became acute in the last six months of her life. Photograph: Family handout

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.