Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Mental health clinically-led review of standards, if he will introduce a new access standard that measures clinically meaningful contact for adults with eating disorders; and if he will publish data that provides transparency on waiting times from referral to the start of evidence-based treatment for adults with eating disorders.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have consulted on the potential to introduce five new waiting time standards, as part of its clinically led review of National Health Service access standards. This includes a standard for adults presenting to community-based mental health services, including those with eating disorders, should start to receive help within four weeks from referral. This consultation closed on 1 September 2021 and NHS England and NHS Improvement expect to publish a response in due course. Data will be published on any new waiting time standards when fully implemented and embedded in services.