Treatment Provision For Eating Disorders

EDM number 1460 in 2001-02, proposed by Brian Cotter on 18/06/2002.

That this House welcomes the continuing development of NICE guidelines for the treatment of eating disorders in England and Wales, but expresses its concern that according to the Eating Disorders Association, an estimated 1.1 million people are affected by eating disorders in the United Kingdom today; notes that, without adequate funding, the publication of the treatment guidelines will raise expectations and lead to a dramatic escalation of waiting lists in an already overburdened sector of the NHS; regrets the woeful lack of specialist service provision for eating disorders, so that many patients have to travel long distances to receive desperately needed treatment; further notes with concern that treatment is commonly offered within general psychiatric units which can cause unnecessary distress and negatively affect or even halt recovery; and therefore calls upon the Government to work with the Eating Disorders Association and other specialist organisations to put in place proper funding arrangements and resources in order to reduce the growing number of people suffering and dying from eating disorders every year.

This motion has been signed by a total of 64 MPs.