Waiting Times on the Mind – Adult Community Eating Disorder Services
By Danny Bowman FRSA – CMHG Research and Communications Lead
Briefing Summary
The prevalence of eating disorders has been increasing amongst the UK population placing extra pressure on already stretched community-based services. This research has endeavoured to provide a clear and concise analyse and evaluation of the burdens facing adult eating disorder services in England. This has been achieved through the collection of data from NHS trusts providing community-based interventions to adults with eating disorders. The results validate the concerns raised by representative elites, charities, clinicians and service users around access to timely interventions for eating disorders. The results highlight the enormous delays facing adults with eating disorders and variations in waiting times for community-based interventions across the country. Previous governments have worked hard to increase the focus on these disparities but more work is needed to improve timely access to evidence-based treatments.
Key Findings
- The average waiting time for community eating disorder services in England was 5 months
from referral to treatment. The highest overall waiting time from referral to treatment was
experienced by Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust at 18 months. - The average waiting time for community eating disorder services in England was 5 months
from referral to treatment. The highest overall waiting time from referral to treatment was
experienced by Dorset Healthcare University Foundation Trust at 18 months. - 68% of NHS trusts providing community eating disorder services had waiting times
exceeding 3 months from referral to treatment. - Only 32% of NHS trusts providing community eating disorder services had waiting times
below 3 months from referral to treatment.
Referral to Assessment
- The average waiting time for NHS trusts from referral to assessment was 3 months.
- The highest overall waiting time from referral to assessment was recorded by Dorset
Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust at 10 months, followed by Gloucestershire
Health and Care Trust at 9 months.
Assessment to Treatment
- The average waiting time from assessment to treatment was 2.2 months, with waiting times
ranging from 0 to 11 months. - The highest waiting time from assessment to treatment was experienced by South London
and Maudsley NHS Trust at 11 months followed by Dorset Healthcare University NHS
Foundation Trust at 8 months.
About the Author
Danny Bowman FRSA – Research and Communications Lead
Danny Bowman FRSA is a PhD Researcher, Chair of MaleVoicED and the CMHG Research and Communications Lead. He has previously held roles as the Director of Mental Health and Head of Campaigns at the Parliament Street think-tank. He has also engaged with No.10 and governmental departments on mental health.
Danny is passionate about mental health, having experienced his own issues as a teenager. His story went viral in 2014 appearing in Time Magazine, The Telegraph and The Times. He has also told his story on Good Morning Britain, Sky News and ABC 2020. He is determined to increase awareness and improve care for those with mental health disorders.
Contact: danny_bowman@thecmhg.co.uk