Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the number of people with eating disorders who could be treated through intensive community or day treatment services rather than inpatient admission; and whether she plans to increase investment in these services.

There is no current estimate of the kind described by the Hon. Member, but on the wider issues she has raised, the Independent review into prevalence and support for mental health conditions, ADHD and autism was published on 9 October, providing analysis and recommendations across a wide range of issues relating to the current provision of services, including the treatment of eating disorders.

The Government issued an initial response on the day of publication, but we will set out the full action we are taking in response to the review recommendations in our new Mental Health Strategy to be published later this year, including in relation to the issues raised by the Hon. Member.

The response is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-pledges-earlier-support-to-tackle-mental-health-crises