Action to improve eating disorder services in Scotland

What's going on and what needs improving

Gratitude to Clare Haughey who in 2020, as Mental Health Minister, commissioned a review of eating disorder services in Scotland. And to all those who have been, and still are, putting in hours in committees, and in writing and reviewing reports.

I myself have commented in some early drafts and I can tell you it's dull work — that's why I am thankful for those living and breathing this initiative.

The report is here (summary is here)

The work is ongoing (as I update this page in October 2022): various groups of super-well informed clinicians and experts by experience are working on the steps to implement recommendations from the report.

For example, to monitor progress, we need data collection from all the places in Scotland treating eating disorders. So one group is working on what data to collect, and how.

Another group is currently writing standards. Things like requiring all outpatient services to treat all ages, as is currently the case in Ayrshire. Thinks like the waiting time standard already official in England: treatment within 1 or 4 weeks, depending on severity. Or like allowing self-referral so that GPs don't impede access to eating disorder services.

It's all ambitious, and well-informed.

All this is currently going on, and as 'experts by experience' — directly affected by an eating disorder, or as someone who cares for them — you can probably still volunteer to be on a useful group.

The next challenge, where we will probably all need to keep vigilant and may need to campaign, will be to make sure recommendations are actually implemented. For instance, Wales has done similar work to Scotland in terms of creating a review and standards, so they're ahead of the curve, but my understanding is that there is still much that needs to be put into action.

BEAT is one of the organisations that is, and will be, working on keeping the Scottish government on task.

Onwards:

* Back to the main Scotland page*