More being treated for eating disorders

THE number of people being treated for eating disorders in Tayside is the highest it’s been for five years, “extremely worrying” figures have shown.

Some patients are waiting up to twice as long to be referred for treatment for illnesses such as anorexia and bulimia, compared with four years ago.

In total, 172 people were treated for eating disorders last year in the region, compared with 135 in 2013, a rise of 27%.

Women aged 16-20 accounted for 99 of the cases, the highest of any age group, followed by females aged 21-25, with 88 cases.

Around 13 females were treated for every one male.

Last year, at least one patient waited 12 weeks to be treated. In 2013 waiting time figures peaked at just seven weeks.

Rebecca Field, from the charity BEAT Eating Disorders, said the organisation was lobbying Holyrood to reduce waiting times for people battling the illnesses.

She said: “These statistics are extremely worrying. “We know the sooner someone is treated for an eating disorder, the more likely they are to make a full and fast recovery.

“When people are able to access treatment quickly, it does not only have a positive impact on their chances of recovery, but also the resources of the NHS. By 2020/21, anyone under 18 accessing specialist help for their eating disorder should be seen within four weeks, and one week for any urgent case.

“As well as campaigning for these waiting times to be applied for over 18s, we have a petition directed to the cabinet secretary for health and sport in Scotland to apply the same standards.”

However, an NHS Tayside spokeswoman said there was “no evidence” increased waiting times had affected patient care significantly.

She said: “The maximum waiting time for NHS Tayside Eating Disorders Service in 2017 was 12 weeks, and the average waiting time was seven weeks, both well within the Scottish Government 18-week referral-to-treatment target.

“There is no evidence to suggest a significant deterioration in the clinical presentation or response to treatment of patients as a consequence of the service’s waiting times.

“Where a patient is significantly physically compromised as a consequence of an eating disorder, they will be prioritised for assessment by the service, but will generally require inpatient rather than outpatient treatment.”

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