Eating Disorders Awareness Week — [Andrew Rosindell in the Chair]

The waiting time figures for child eating disorder appointments in London show 97.1% of urgent cases being seen within one week and 92.8% of routine cases being seen within four, while the figures are 78.6% and 78.3% in Rother Valley. He called on the Minister to address this disparity as part of the levelling-up agenda. The Minister acknowledged statistics regarding waiting times for eating disorder treatment, suggesting progress but noting that all areas must meet standards. He also highlighted the importance of workforce development in mental health care.

She welcomed the debate on eating disorders, noting that an estimated 1.25 million people in the UK suffer from these conditions. Keeley highlighted the issue of long wait times for treatment, with patients often facing delays of three and a half years before receiving help. She cited statistics indicating that nearly one-third of those seeking referrals to specialist services are denied by their GPs initially. Additionally, she emphasized the importance of proper training for medical professionals in diagnosing eating disorders and called for waiting time targets for adult eating disorder services. She raised concerns about relapse in adult eating disorder patients, mentioning a pilot project aimed at increasing self-management skills among long-term sufferers. She also asked the Minister to be a champion of improving training and inquired about waiting time targets for adult services.

She thanked the Minister for allowing her to intervene late and raised concerns about the transition in treatment when sufferers turn 18, highlighting challenges faced by those who develop eating disorders later in life.

Mr. Walker discussed a case involving diabulimia, the intersection of type 1 diabetes and an eating disorder, which led to the death of a young woman aged 27 who was a teacher. He highlighted that healthcare professionals often lack awareness of the risk when prescribing insulin to adolescent females or young women with potential underlying eating disorders.

Jim Shannon highlighted a personal story involving a constituent with an eating disorder who was successfully treated at St Thomas's Hospital. He raised concerns about the accuracy of official figures on eating disorders, noting that in 2014-15 and 2015-16, there were 4,513 and 3,895 cases respectively, but by 2018-19, this had risen to 22,336. He questioned the low recording of diagnoses and called for better diagnosis methods and early intervention, citing Beat's estimate of 1.25 million people with eating disorders in the UK. He expressed concern about the dangers of social media on children and young people, suggesting that schools should inform students about the unrealistic expectations promoted by digital alterations in social media. He asked the Minister to confirm that there would be a close working relationship between the Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Education regarding treatment plans.

Cameron highlighted the growing impact of social media pressures on young people's mental health, particularly in relation to eating disorders. She stressed the importance of early intervention and comprehensive training for mental health professionals. She also discussed the need for a flexible treatment system that accommodates chronic conditions. Cameron noted initiatives by the Scottish Government, including an online peer support tool and informational platforms for parents and carers. She supported the idea of formulation-driven treatment plans that address all presented issues, suggesting improvements over current practices where patients may not receive necessary specialist care from primary care services.