Health services for Londoners with eating disorders are struggling to cope with demand, a new report warns.
Data from London’s mental health trusts shows adult referrals have increased by 56% – from 3,000 to nearly 8,000 – in the last six years
Child and adolescent referrals increased by 158%, from 1,400 to 4,000, in the same time period.
The report has been compiled by the London Assembly’s health committee.
It has made 12 recommendations to London Mayor Sadiq Khan and City Hall officers, which include assessing other physical and mental health indicators as well as just patients’ bodyweight as per their BMI.
The mayor’s office said that while Mr Khan is not responsible for health services in London, he meets regularly with NHS officials and will “carefully consider” the report’s findings.
The report found that NHS funding for eating disorder services is at its highest ever level.
One consultant clinical psychologist told the committee that “almost all of the eating disorder services in London do not have the staffing levels available to safely provide the care required”.
The NHS has a target of ensuring that, from their first contact with a designated healthcare professional, 95% of those aged under 18 start treatment within four weeks. For urgent cases, the target is for 95% to start treatment within one week.
