Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O'Shaughnessy on 27 November 2018 (HL11475), what assessment they have made of (1) the proportion of Foundation doctors who receive teaching and training specifically in eating disorders, (2) the average amount of time spent on such teaching and training, and (3) the extent to which Foundation doctors are assessed on their knowledge and clinical skills in relation to eating disorders.

The Foundation Programme (FP) curriculum is developed by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC). The curriculum sets out twenty foundation professional capabilities that foundation doctors in training must develop and demonstrate.

FP year two doctors provide supporting evidence to demonstrate the capability to recognise, assess and manage patients with long term conditions including patients who may have eating disorders. This can include working with other healthcare professionals to address nutritional needs and communicate these during care planning; recognising eating disorders, seek senior input and refer to local specialist service; and formulating a plan for investigation and management of weight loss or weight gain.

Progression to the next stage of training at the end of FP year one and FP year two is dependent on the doctor demonstrating that they have met or exceeded the minimum levels of performance required for sign off for each of the 20 foundation professional capabilities.

Health Education England is working closely with NHS England to further understand the current requirements and provision of eating disorder services in order to identify interventions to increase education and training in eating disorders, working with AoMRC as appropriate.