Question reference: S5W-10701
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 11 August 2017
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Current status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 29 August 2017
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what NHS (a) guidelines and (b) targets there are regarding treating (i) children and young people and (ii) adults who have eating disorders
Answer
Clinicians and other health and social care professionals will take account of all relevant evidence based guidance as appropriate. This will include guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence such as guideline NG69 Eating disorders: recognition and treatment. Guidance on the treatment of eating disorders in Scotland includes:
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Recommendations for Management and treatment of Eating Disorders in Scotland (2006) (http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/previous_resources/best_practice_statement/eating_disorders_in_scotland.aspx)
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Eating Disorders in Scotland A Patient’s Guide (2007)
Royal College of Psychiatrists Management of Really Sick Patients with Anorexia Nervosa – for Young People (2012)
(http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/usefulresources/publications/collegereports/cr/cr168.aspx)
Royal College of Psychiatrists Management of Really Sick Patients with Anorexia Nervosa – for Adults (2nd Edition 2014)
(http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/pdf/CR189_a.pdf)
In respect of targets, there are no specific targets for the treatment of people with an eating disorder.
Currently within Scotland data is published on a quarterly basis on the number of patients receiving treatment against the waiting time standard of 18 weeks referral to treatment for psychological therapies; and the number of children and young people receiving treatment against the waiting times standard of 18 weeks referral to treatment for specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). This standard covers treatment across the range of mental health services and the quarterly data reports are published online at: http://www.isdscotland.org/Publications/ .
A wider review that has been undertaken across health services to look at how targets and indicators for health and social care align with the Government’s strategy for the future of the NHS and social care services and support the best use of public resources. Sir Harry Burns is the independent Chair of a National Review of Targets and Indicators for Health and Social Care, and we expect to see Sir Harry’s report published around the end of August.