MP welcomes step forward in campaign to bring specialist eating disorder service to South Cumbria

Local MP Tim Farron's long-running campaign for a specialist eating disorder service in South Cumbria was given a boost this week after ministers said the service should start in the Spring.

In response to a written Parliamentary question from Tim, health minister Nadine Dorries said that "a specialist eating disorder service in South Cumbria, "which will include one to one and family-based therapies, will commence in April 2020".

The minister added that the plans were "dependent on a number of factors, including consultation with existing staff and recruitment of new staff".

Back in February 2016, the Government allocated £5m to be used to create a bespoke county-wide service, but nearly four years later there are still no signs of this happening.

Figures from the charity BEAT show that over three quarters of children with eating disorders in Cumbria aren't seen by a psychologist within the national standard of four weeks, while some have to wait over 12 weeks.

Commenting on the response from the Department for Health, Tim said: "After years of trying to knock heads together, I'm glad to see the Government actually committing to delivering this service this year.

"However, the old adage of I'll believe it when I see it springs to mind.

"I will be looking to work with local health bosses and ministers to make sure that this service, which would be so beneficial for people struggling with eating disorders, becomes a reality."