Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has raised concerns that additional Welsh Government funding to improve services for children and young people with eating disorders, will only be focused on areas in South Wales.
Mr George, who is a member of the National Assembly’s Petition’s Committee, made the comments while the Committee took evidence on a petition submitted by Montgomeryshire woman, Helen Missen, who is asking the Welsh Government to properly fund specialist Child and Adolescent Eating Disorder services in Wales at the same level as adult services. Both Mrs Missen and the Minister for Health and Social Services, Prof Mark Drakeford AM, gave evidence to the Committee who have chosen to investigate this issue in more detail.
Yet, the session followed a Welsh Government statement made on 7th October, which announced additional annual funding of £250,000 to improve specialist services for children and young people with complex eating disorders in South Wales. The Government have stated that the funding will ensure Health Boards in South Wales are able to provide new specialist expertise to work with young people and their families and also improve the training and skills of existing staff.
Commenting, Mr George said:
“I think the compelling evidence that Helen has given the Committee over the past year clearly shows that there is a need for more targeted investment in Child and Adolescent Eating Disorder services right across Wales.
“It is widely accepted that the majority of eating disorders begin in childhood and early adolescence, therefore there is the need for early, appropriate intervention to ensure best outcomes for patients.
“I am concerned that the Minister’s announcement yesterday, although welcome, the benefits will only be felt by those young people living south of the M4 corridor.
“There has to be equity in service provision both between child and adolescent eating disorder services and adult services but there also needs to be parity of access and treatment across Wales.”
