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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Most areas in England to cut eating-disorder help for under-18s | Most areas in England to cut eating-disorder help for under-18s |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Most areas in England are planning cuts to specialist eating-disorder services for children and young people this year, an analysis shows. | Most areas in England are planning cuts to specialist eating-disorder services for children and young people this year, an analysis shows. |
| Of the nation's 42 NHS integrated care boards, 24 are due to reduce spending for under-18s in 2024-25, once inflation is taken into account. | Of the nation's 42 NHS integrated care boards, 24 are due to reduce spending for under-18s in 2024-25, once inflation is taken into account. |
| Overall spending is due to go up by 2.9%, with budgets rising in the other areas, but the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych), which carried out the analysis, said this was too little to cope with increased in demand. | |
| NHS England said improving care was "vital" and more action was being taken in the community to support young people before their condition became a crisis. | NHS England said improving care was "vital" and more action was being taken in the community to support young people before their condition became a crisis. |
| Spending had been increasing for a number of years but "more work needs to be done", an official added. | Spending had been increasing for a number of years but "more work needs to be done", an official added. |
| 'Shrugged off' | 'Shrugged off' |
| Veronika, 20, has been struggling with an eating disorder for five years. | Veronika, 20, has been struggling with an eating disorder for five years. |
| "Shrugged off" by services in the past, she says cuts could be "catastrophic" for people like her. | "Shrugged off" by services in the past, she says cuts could be "catastrophic" for people like her. |
| "It will have a knock-on impact and people won't want to seek help even from their GP, even for physical-health monitoring," Veronika says. | "It will have a knock-on impact and people won't want to seek help even from their GP, even for physical-health monitoring," Veronika says. |
| "It will just spiral on and on. | "It will just spiral on and on. |
| "It is horrible living day in and day out with it. | "It is horrible living day in and day out with it. |
| "And if you are not seen quick enough, I know myself how quickly things can spiral in a matter of weeks or days. | "And if you are not seen quick enough, I know myself how quickly things can spiral in a matter of weeks or days. |
| "It is going to be tragic for some and just long and horrible for others". | "It is going to be tragic for some and just long and horrible for others". |
| 'Ration care' | 'Ration care' |
| Eating-disorder services cover a range of different support, from therapy and counselling to crisis support and hospital treatment. | Eating-disorder services cover a range of different support, from therapy and counselling to crisis support and hospital treatment. |
| But they were already underfunded, the RCPsych said, and it had had to ration care to the under-18s most affected. | |
| Last year, referrals went up by 13%. | Last year, referrals went up by 13%. |
| By the end of 2024, more than 6,000 under-18s were on waiting lists. | By the end of 2024, more than 6,000 under-18s were on waiting lists. |
| And targets for routine and urgent waits are not currently being met. | And targets for routine and urgent waits are not currently being met. |
| 'Torn apart' | 'Torn apart' |
| Dr Ashish Kumar, of the RCPsych, said: "Eating disorders, in particular anorexia, have high rates of mortality yet are treatable conditions. | |
| "And with the right care and support in a timely manner, most patients can make a full recovery." | "And with the right care and support in a timely manner, most patients can make a full recovery." |
| Tom Quinn, of the eating disorder charity Beat, said: "We are extremely concerned at the prospect of funding cuts to children and young people's eating-disorder services. | Tom Quinn, of the eating disorder charity Beat, said: "We are extremely concerned at the prospect of funding cuts to children and young people's eating-disorder services. |
| "These vital services are already on their knees." | "These vital services are already on their knees." |
| It comes after the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eating Disorders warned "woefully inadequate care" meant lives were being lost and families torn apart. | It comes after the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eating Disorders warned "woefully inadequate care" meant lives were being lost and families torn apart. |
| Details of help and support with eating disorders are available in the UK at BBC Action Line | Details of help and support with eating disorders are available in the UK at BBC Action Line |