Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the NHS’s ability to effectively offer care to children with an eating disorder in the context of increases in the number of hospital admissions for eating disorders.

While data has shown a significant increase in demand for the treatment of eating disorders, the number of children and young people beginning treatment has also increased.

We are investing an additional £79 million in 2021/22 to expand children’s mental health services, enabling 2,000 more children and young people to access eating disorder services. NHS England and NHS Improvement have announced a further £40 million in 2021/22 to address the impact of the pandemic on children and young people’s mental health, including for eating disorders. NHS England and NHS Improvement continue to work with system leaders and regions and ask that areas prioritise service delivery and investment to meet the needs of vulnerable young people.