Jo Whitfield from the eating disorder charity Beat said she had heard of patients being sent as far as Scotland for treatment, which was “devastating for patients”.
The charity called on the Welsh government to publish a plan with timescales to ensure “everyone in Wales is able to access specialist treatment at the earliest opportunity”.
This was echoed by Member of the Senedd Sarah Murphy, the new chairwoman of a cross-party group on eating disorders who has struggled with anorexia herself.
She told Wales Live: “We need timescales now. It’s been long enough. Eating disorders and the treatment was in crisis before the pandemic, it’s more of a crisis now.
“I was very severely ill and I was days away from being admitted to an adult psychiatric unit at the old East Glamorgan Hospital because we had nothing here in Wales.”
The WHSSC said it was looking at paying for beds from the independent sector to provide care “potentially closer to home”.
A Welsh government spokesman said it was investing an extra £2.5m in 2022-23, adding: “Most people who need to access services, including in-patient care, will receive this care in Wales and we are also working with NHS Wales to scope the feasibility of a specialist eating disorder unit in Wales.
“We expect all health boards to provide specialist, multi-disciplinary support for people with eating disorders.”
