The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eating Disorders have released a report entitled “The Right to Health: People with Eating Disorders are being failed” – over the course of 6 months they met with patients, families, clinicians and researchers who have detailed accounts of how services for treating eating disorders are inadequate and there is a need for a national strategy.
Key Findings:
Lack of ARFID Treatment: Specialist support for Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is reported to be severely limited, particularly for those under 8 and over 18. Many must seek private healthcare due to NHS gaps.
“Currently, it is extremely difficult for people under the age of 8 and over the age of 18 to be diagnosed with ARFID unless a person seeks private healthcare, and beyond that, there is very limited treatment available.”
Systemic Challenges: The report states that underfunding and resource shortages have led to significant consequences for individuals with eating disorders. Families have reported challenges in accessing care.
“We heard stories of children as young as four being diagnosed with ARFID who were unable to access any specialist support. We heard of families losing loved ones due to systemic neglect and inadequate care, and we heard from dedicated professionals struggling to provide life-saving treatment in an environment that is underfunded, under-resourced and overwhelmed.”
Discharge of Critically Ill Patients: Freedom of Information requests revealed that some hospital trusts discharge patients with BMIs as low as 11, despite this being below medically safe levels.
Rising Demand for Services: NHS admissions for eating disorders surpassed 30,000 in 2023/24, a significant increase from 19,000 before the pandemic. The report calls for urgent reform to meet growing demand.
Call for National Reform: The APPG report urges immediate action, advocating for the establishment of a national strategy for eating disorder services to ensure that individuals affected receive the essential support and care they require.
Related Conference: Improving Access, Treatment and Recovery Outcomes for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Thursday 27th February 2025| Virtual, Online
This conference will serve as a vital platform for bringing together experts, researchers, clinicians and advocates to foster a deeper understanding of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
For more details, access the full report here.
