Eating disorder targets for young people missed in a third of cases

NHS statistics have revealed that 30 per cent of young people with eating disorders did not receive treatment within the waiting time standard for community-based treatment in 2016-17.

The access and waiting times standard for children and young people with an eating disorder states that there should be no more than one week between referral and start of treatment for ‘urgent’ cases and four weeks for ‘routine’ cases.

However, figures show the target was reached in only 65 per cent of ‘urgent’ cases, with 10 per cent waiting longer than four weeks to start treatment. Meanwhile, 13 individuals were delayed over 12 weeks for their first appointment. For ‘routine’ cases, more than one in four had to wait longer than the stipulated four weeks, and 198 waited three months or more.

Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity, has launched a campaign to lobby candidates standing in the general election to pledge support for action on eating disorders and ensure that 100 per cent of individuals can access the treatment they need and deserve without delay.

Tom Quinn, director of External Affairs at Beat said: “It is concerning that so many young people are waiting too long for treatment. All evidence tells us the sooner someone with an eating disorder gets the treatment they need, the more likely they are to make a full and sustained recovery. More work must be done at a national and local level to ensure these figures improve year on year.

“Indeed, the number of people not getting the treatment they need will be much higher than these figures suggest. The report shows only those who have been referred to eating disorder services and we know that many are not referred for treatment when they should be, or are still suffering in silence. NHS England themselves are referring to the data as ‘experimental’ and there is more work to be done to ensure that the figures are accurate and also not skewed by sufferers being denied access to treatment.

“Nevertheless, we commend the government for recognising the importance of early intervention and starting the process of improving access to treatment for young people. Of course, eating disorders do not disappear when someone becomes an adult, and so we must see equivalent targets established across all age groups. Whoever forms the next government must ensure there is adequate funding and staffing levels so everyone gets the treatment they deserve.”