#JustTwoHours: Psychiatrist reveals benefits of working with GPs who have in-depth training in eating disorders
Dr Powell believes it helps patients access treatment quicker
A psyciatrist has revealed the benefits to working with GPs who have in-depth training in eating disorders.
Medical students currently have on average 1.8 hours of training in them - 1 in 5 medical schools dont provide any training in them at all.
Online wellbeing community Kooth has reported a 51% increase in dealing with service users experiencing eating disorders in 2020 - compared with the year before.
Nationally, since the first lockdown in March 2020, it's estimated 3.4 million people in the UK are now living an eating disorder.
Dr. Katie Powell, Consultant Psychiatrist at Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health and Care Trust, said:" We've noticed a really big increase in referrals coming through,
"A lot of the young people coming to us are sicker and they're younger.
"The social isolation brought about through lockdowns has had a big impact as well as food shortages and school closures."
Dr. Powell believes patients are able to access treatment quicker when the referral made by the GP is more in-depth.
She's been holding sessions with GPs during the pandemic to help to advise them on how to do this better.
"GPs are really greatful are grateful for the reminders of some of the things to look out for.
"We talked them through the referal form and shared with them what happens after they have referred a patient to us as well.
"It does make our job much easier when we have GPs who are trained in how to properly refer someone they suspect has an eating disorder.
#JustTwoHours
Over the last month, been hearing from people who have been directly impacted by GPs not having enough training on how to spot the signs of eating disorders.
Kim Marshall helped us launch the #JustTwoHours campaign after creating a petition calling for GPs to have mandatory training in eating disorders.
"My son almost died after GP didn't spot signs of anorexia"
Beverley Mattocks told us the issues her son faced when trying to get help for her son's eating disorder.
She highlighted how the GP wasn't aware of how boys and men are impacted by them - which saw her son nearly die because his heart rate dropped to a dangerously low rate.
Social media influencer backs #JustTwoHours
Ciandra Birnbaum, who's in recovery, spoke to us about her struggles in getting help with her anorexia.
She explained how only last year she saw a GP who had never referred anyone to the eating disorder service.