PATIENT groups have voiced concern that a large part of the region is not covered by new services for patients with a disabling condition.

Regional organisations representing people who suffer from myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) were delighted when it was announced that multi-disciplinary teams would be set up to help sufferers with therapy, counselling and advice.

Patients with ME, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, can become housebound or even bedbound.

Doctors still do not know what causes ME, but there is increasing suspicion that the often painful condition could be triggered by a virus.

Last year, primary care trusts in the region were invited to apply for extra money provided by the Department of Health.

But while ME patients in Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland are benefiting from the new teams, Teesside and Easington, County Durham, have missed out.

Jennifer Elliott, chief executive of the ME North-East charity, which represents an estimated 12,000 ME sufferers in the region, said she regretted the absence of facilities on Teesside.

She said: "It is a great shame. You are probably talking about a population of about half a million people which has missed out."

While it is unknown how many people on Teesside suffer from ME, the absence of facilities concerns Geoff Brunt, chairman of the Cleveland ME Support Group.

"We were very disappointed when we heard that the bid from Teesside had not been successful," said Mr Brunt, whose wife, Anna, has ME.

Mr Brunt said his organisation had 200 members, but he believes many more sufferers live in the area.

He has just written to Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust (PCT) asking whether there are plans to set up a Teesside ME team.

The new ME teams are based at clinics at Chester-le-Street, Bishop Auckland, both in County Durham, Monkwearmouth, in Sunderland, and Newcastle.

A spokeswoman for Middlesbrough PCT said: "It is very disappointing that we were unsuccessful in this bid for funding. We are, however, still actively looking at other ways of providing this range of ME services in the Teesside area."

The Cleveland ME Support Group can be contacted on (01642) 324994.