Written question asked by Linda Gilroy (Labour) on Thursday, 18 March 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 March 2010. It was answered by Phil Hope (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 March 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Eating Disorders

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines his Department has issued to NHS organisations on (a) diagnosing and (b) referring patients with eating disorders.

Answer: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published clinical guidelines on core interventions in the treatment and management of eating disorders in 2004. Most people with an eating disorder are not admitted to hospital but treated in primary, out-patient or community care settings. General practitioners and clinicians are expected to refer to NICE guidance as often as is necessary.People with very severe and intractable eating disorders may require referral to highly specialised services when their health needs cannot be met within local mental health services. Access to these specialised services should be made on the basis of tertiary referrals from consultant to consultant.

Secondary information