A NATIONAL advisor on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) has lodged complaints against a council and hospital over their handling of the case of a Teesside teenager.

Paul Franklin, child protection advisor for the Association of Young People with ME and vice-chairman of ME support in Cleveland, is unhappy with the services provided by the James Cook University Hospital and Middlesbrough Borough Council.

He claims their ignorance about the condition, also known as chronic fatigue syndrome, is shown by their treatment of the Carr family, of Beechfield, Coulby Newham.

Following a disagreement with hospital staff, Greg and Jackie Carr withdrew their daughter Samantha, 15, from their care, but found themselves being accused of neglect by social workers.

Mr Franklin said: "I represented Mr and Mrs Carr at a child protection meeting and was quite appalled. As an advocate, I wasn't allowed to speak unless they waived their right to, and we produced copious information on ME to be told that people wouldn't have time to read it.

"There was virtually no effort to get to the truth. Children and families are being abused by the system."

Samantha, who was first diagnosed with ME about three years ago, has now been placed on the child protection register. Mrs Carr, who has another daughter, Lauren, nine, said she feels angry at the way the family has been treated.

"Samantha had no appetite and had vomited continuously for eight months," she said. "She was admitted to hospital for being underweight, and the doctors tried to bully her into eating. We had meeting after meeting with them because we disagreed with what they said.

"Now everyone thinks we've neglected her, when all we've done is follow different doctors' advice."

Samantha is now gaining weight after being transferred to the University Hospital of North Tees.

She said: "I felt really sick and kept being sick. I would have eaten if I could have. The doctors really frightened me. It was horrible."

A spokeswoman for the James Cook University Hospital said that she was unable to comment due to "the complex nature of the case and patient confidentiality".

A spokesman for Middlesbrough council, which has agreed to provide training on ME, said: "The child protection panel is run in conjunction with national guidelines."