'Hundreds' of children in Lancashire receiving eating disorder treatment

And there are fears these numbers are due to increase as a result of the pandemic, as mental health charities say the national rise in demand for help with eating disorders during the Covid-19 outbreak has become “deeply worrying”.

Last year, NHS England data shows 312 children and young people aged under 19 started treatment for routine cases of eating disorders at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, with a further 36 beginning their treatment for urgent cases.

The figures cover treatment for conditions such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders.

And between October and December, 700 urgent cases were seen across England – more than for any other three-month period since records began in 2016.

Eating disorder charity Beat said the rise was concerning but expected, as demand for its helpline services had more than doubled over the course of the pandemic.

Director of external affairs Tom Quinn said: “It is extremely important that children and young people are able to find effective treatment quickly as the sooner someone is treated the more likely they are to make a full and fast recovery.”

According to the NHS, targets say that 95 per cent of patients should begin urgent treatment within one week of being referred in 2020-21, and the same proportion of routine cases should begin within four weeks.

At Lancashire and South Cumbria Trust, no patients waited more than a week to start urgent treatment last year.

But mental health charity YoungMinds said it is “deeply worrying” that more young people need support for eating disorders, and that many are waiting too long to get treatment.

Director of communications and campaigns Tom Madders said: “The factors behind eating disorders are often complex, but the pandemic has left many young people isolated, uncertain about the future and less in control. Many may also have lost access to their usual routines and coping mechanisms.

“Early support can make a huge difference and prevent problems from escalating.”

An NHS spokewoman said: "The pandemic turned lives upside down and hit young people particularly hard, but community eating disorder services continue to step up to treat increasing numbers that require care."

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