To ask the Minister of Health, following the removal of funding from Eating Disorders Association NI, what action he is taking to ensure those who need one-to-one support for an eating disorder can avail of the appropriate support.

There are currently four adult and four children’s Eating Disorder Specialist Teams across the five Health and Social Care Trusts. The Belfast Trust and South Eastern Trust is represented by one team. For individuals requiring one to one support, these teams have developed community based psychological therapy services using evidence-based treatments as per National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance. They work to the Regional Care Pathway for the Treatment of Eating Disorders (2016). The care pathway outlines what people can expect if they are referred for treatment and provides summary of clinical advice derived from evidence-based practice. It also includes information to assist people with self-care and accessing other supports before, during and after treatment.

The Regional Eating Disorder Network Group (REDNG) chaired by officials from my Department ensures local developments are coherent and standardised as far as possible. Representation on the REDNG is lifespan. It includes individuals from Department of Health’s Strategic Planning and Performance Group and policy, Public Health Agency, Health and Social Care Trusts including, Eating Disorder Service Clinical Leads, Team Leads and Clinical Service Managers, Psychology nominee (nominated on behalf of psychology services in all Trusts), experts by experience encompassing the voluntary sector, service users and carers, Trust service managers.

The role of the REDNG is to promote the uniformity of approaches to patients across Trusts and share best practice and learning from service developments. It provides a consistent and equitable approach across NI to the planning and commissioning of high quality, effective and accessible treatment for service users. Standards are based upon those laid out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence). REDNG currently fulfil that function, aiming to:

•improve outcomes for those who require Eating Disorder Services

•promote collaborative working between the Strategic Planning and Performance Group, Trusts, Department of Health Policy, Statutory Services and the Community & Voluntary Sector

•involve service users and carers in service developments

•ensure workforce development and sustainability

•address any teaching and training needs

•establish/promote gold standard clinical practice

Currently a clinical lead and a 0.5wte Network Manager are being recruited for the REDNG in order to improve eating disorder identification and treatment.

Action 29 of the Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031 commits to ensure there are specialist interventions available to those who need it. 29d commits to enhance the regional eating disorder service. A business case is in development in relation to Action 29 d

The Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031 notes provision of services for people with an eating disorder, recognising the benefits of REDNG, whilst acknowledging outcomes for these patients could be improved. In particular, evidence suggests that early intervention is key. This means supporting services to offer specialist treatment to all those who are presenting with eating disorders, including mild to moderate cases, without delay.

The Strategy highlights the need for further investment so that eating disorder services can achieve optimum staffing levels and skill mix to deliver effective care across the pathways, to include additional medical, nursing, dietetic, psychology, occupational therapy and social work staff working in the community, and providing in-reach to medical and mental health wards. The Strategy also highlights the need for local in-patient units, medical and mental health, with in-reach and clinical consultation and the need to ensure sufficient staffing levels for the management of high-risk patients with eating disorders.