In Eating Disorders Awareness Week, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has emphasised the need for timely, evidence-based intervention to improve outcomes and reduce long-term pressure on the NHS.
Calling for a Welsh Government Statement on Eating Disorders in yesterday's meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood said that, in Eating Disorders Awareness Week, the charity Beat are highlighting the urgent need to strengthen and standardise eating disorder services across Wales.
He said:
"Eating disorders affect at least 62,500 people across Wales and require timely, evidence-based intervention to improve outcomes and reduce long-term pressure on the NHS.
"They therefore ask what steps the Welsh Government is taking to ensure that proven innovations, such as lived experience-led peer support and early intervention approaches, are systematically embedded within NHS provision across all health boards?
"In particular, they ask how will the learning from initiatives, such as the peer support service launched at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, be scaled nationally, and how will consistency, quality and impact be measured?
"Clarity is also needed on the progress towards developing a national early intervention pathway for eating disorders, including how feasibility, cost-effectiveness and variation in current provision will be assessed, to ensure equitable access to timely support wherever people live in Wales. I call for a Statement from the Health Secretary accordingly."
Responding, the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt MS, said:
"I think it's very important that you've raised this issue, which affects many people, in Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and also to draw attention to the Aneurin Bevan provision and needing to ensure that there is consistent support across Wales.
"I will ask the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to update us through a statement on eating disorders and support for those affected, particularly in terms of lived experience."
