Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support young people with eating disorders transferring from children's to adult care services.

The Eating Disorder pathway (published 2015) provides guidance on supporting transitions between services. Best practice is also outlined in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline for recognition and treatment of eating disorders (2017) and NICE Quality Standards for Eating Disorders (2018).

The NHS Long Term Plan sets out ambitions and additional investment to provide a comprehensive offer for 0 to 25 year olds and improve the community offer for adults with mental health problems, which includes dedicated services for eating disorders. The ambitions aim to improve integration between children and young people’s and adult mental health services to meet the needs of young adults, including those with an eating disorder, and ensure people experience a seamless and continuous treatment pathway.