Kezia Dugdale

Answer · Jeane Freeman · 5 Aug 2019

Treatment for Eating Disorders are not currently recorded within the Treatment Time Guarantee (TTG). This is because patients accessing these services are likely to undertake psychological therapy and significant counselling as part of their treatment. This would be carried out on an outpatient basis and it is unlikely the treatment would be completed within 12 weeks.
The Scottish Government is clear in our engagement with NHS Boards that patients should be assessed according to their clinical need. Our expectation is that those who need immediate treatment, whether for an eating disorder or for any condition or disorder requiring access to mental health services, will receive that care quickly. The answer to PQ S5W-24288 on 5 August 2019 lays out the Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce Scotland-specific clinical guidelines for Eating Disorders. We will expect the Guidelines to be carefully followed.

Answer · Jeane Freeman · 5 Aug 2019

The ANNETT service was renamed to The Cullen Centre Community Team in 2015. We are not aware of any current plans to close the service.

Answer · Jeane Freeman · 5 Aug 2019

The Scottish Government has not held direct discussions with the NHS in England and Wales on best practice for eating disorders. However, we are aware of their approach and carefully monitor its impact and performance against their waiting times targets.

Answer · Jeane Freeman · 5 Aug 2019

The Scottish Government currently has no plans to introduce a national strategy for eating disorders. However we are firmly committed to further improving the support available for people living with an eating disorder in Scotland.
During Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2019 we announced that there will be Scottish-specific Guidelines on the management and treatment of eating disorders, which will be produced by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN). These new guidelines will take into account and focus on the cultural and geographical make up of Scotland. Previous guidelines have not considered the specific needs of Scotland in the same way. When the SIGN guidelines are published, we will have a Scotland-specific blueprint for the treatment of eating disorders which we will expect to be carefully followed.
Our ten year Mental Health Strategy contained a specific action to fund a digital peer support service to support young people with an eating disorder. This is delivered by NHS Lothian and Beat. It was relaunched during Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2019 to include the addition of a telephone coaching service for parents and carers.
Through this funding, NHS Lothian and Beat also developed the Cared website. This award winning website provides information about eating disorders in an innovative way to those with an eating disorder and their family and friends.

Answer · Jeane Freeman · 5 Aug 2019

The Scottish Government is clear in our engagement with NHS Boards that patients should be
assessed according to their clinical need. We expect Boards to ensure that
their services are planned efficiently so that patients have swift and safe
access to the full range of services they need. This includes access to
intensive treatment beds if necessary.  

Answer · Jeane Freeman · 5 Aug 2019

The Minister for Mental Health formally met a number of eating disorder stakeholders, including Beat, on 15 March 2018 at a roundtable meeting. A range of issues were discussed such as the formation of an eating disorders Managed Clinical Network, the needs of people with comorbid diabetes and eating disorders, and the expansion of training on eating disorders for clinicians.
Beat attended a Children and Young People’s Mental Health Taskforce meeting on 28 February 2019 to present their work to Taskforce members.
Additionally, the Scottish Government worked with Beat and NHS Lothian during Eating Disorder Awareness Week 2019 to relaunch the digital peer support service which supports young people with an eating disorder, and a telephone coaching service for parents and carers of those with an eating disorder.

Answer · Derek Mackay · 26 Jun 2019

I take the issue of behavioural effects and loss of tax revenue very seriously. That is why I have asked the Council of Economic Advisers to consider any potential behaviour effects beyond the work they have done on the Top Rate of Tax. Our tax policies strive to create a balance between raising revenue and ensuring progressivity.