Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing service standards for adults suffering from eating disorders for (a) access to services and (b) waiting times.

NHS England will develop evidence based treatment pathways across mental health services over the next five years in line with the recommendations of the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health. NHS England is working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health to ensure that each pathway is fully informed by the available evidence and the views of experts by experience.

The National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health is developing a pathway for adults with eating disorders, together with detailed implementation guidance for providers, over 2017/18.

NHS England is also conducting a baseline audit to measure existing levels of investment, capacity and activity across inpatient and community services for adults with eating disorders.