Eating disorder care to be reviewed

A national review of services for people suffering from eating disorders is to be carried out to assess and improve support for them.

The review, which will cover eating disorder services for both adults and young people from the age of 12, will publish its findings in spring next year.

It will make recommendations for how services can best be provided in urban, semi-urban and rural areas, and what the age limit, if any, of such services should be.

Work on the review will last for six months and start following the publication of the Mental Welfare Commission’s (MWC) report on eating disorder services which is expected this summer.

Speaking at the start of Eatingdisorderawarenessweek, mental health minister Clare Haughey said: “More people lose their lives from eating disorders than any other psychiatric condition.

“Therefore it requires a specialist and dedicated response.

“The national review will build on the work of the MWC who are currently visiting eating disorder services in Scotland.”