Bristol campaigner calls for inquiry into eating disorder deaths
Hope Virgo says too often, treatment from the NHS isn't good enough
Eating disorder campaigners are calling for a confidential inquiry into avoidable deaths from the condition, saying the NHS fails too many patients.
A new petition created by Hope Virgo from Bristol is backing calls for the inquiry, which would be designed to pinpoint systemic problems affecting NHS care and come up with recommendations to resolve them.
Hope, who was admitted to hospital with an eating disorder as a teenager, said: "For too long people with eating disorders have been dismissed and neglected.
"People are being denied lifesaving treatment for not being sick enough, for being too sick, too complex, or not working hard enough.
"People are dying because of this, they are being denied treatment they need and with the new government we have the chance to change this.
"We need to stop the cover up culture within eating disorder service and for services to learn from mistakes, have accountability and to give the best treatment for everyone."
Ms Virgo, who is a published author on the issue, said the inquiry could look specifically at the preventable deaths of people with eating disorders, the extent of patient and family involvement in decision-making processes and what are the systemic barriers to receiving compassionate, individualised care.
She runs the campaign Dump the Scales, which is intended to challenge ideas that treatment for eating disorders is tied to a patient's weight.
She said there is a need to offer people treatment on the NHS regardless of what their body mass index is, and is calling for greater understanding that that not all eating disorders are visible.
She said guidance for the NHS on treatment specify that BMI should not be the only diagnostic measure used, but many people find it hard to access treatment if they are not technically underweight.
Independent MP John McDonnell, who is backing the call, said: "People with eating disorders are being failed across the UK right now, with people dying every day due to neglect, stigma and underfunded services.
"We have an eating disorder epidemic that isn't going away and must be tackled as a matter of urgency.
"A confidential enquiry into all eating disorder deaths is a necessity and will shine a light on where services and aren't working and create a space for accountability in treatment."
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: "Lord Darzi's report shed light on the terrible state of the NHS and eating disorder services, with hospital admissions for eating disorders increasing by 82% since 2019/20.
"We will fix the NHS and ensure those living with the condition are given the support they need, by recruiting an extra 8,500 adult and child mental health staff, investing in community mental health hubs and putting mental health support in every school.
"Clinical guidance is clear that decisions on referrals and discharge should never be made based solely on weight or BMI."