I'm grateful to Rhun for opening today's debate and outlining why we as a group wanted to table this important motion today. And, as has already been referenced, it's timely that we're able to do so during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, which once again provides a spotlight on an issue that affects so many. I'd also like to put on record my appreciation of the work of Beat, who work tirelessly to raise awareness, as well as providing direct support to those that are suffering. 

As has been previously outlined, there are a number of factors that have impacted progress since the review, ranging from limited and uneven investment in eating disorder services, workforce challenges, as well as, of course, the impact of COVID-19. So, the question today is: how can we finally make progress on these issues? In 2009, the Welsh Government published 'Eating Disorders—A Framework for Wales', which helped steer the development of services in the years that followed. The terms of reference for the service review referred to publishing a new framework in 2019, and so far the Welsh Government has only set out initial high-level priorities for eating disorder services. The Welsh Government's 'Together for Mental Health' 2019-2022 strategy commits it to work with service users, carers and health boards to develop a new model of service in response to the recent independent review.

The Welsh Government needs to publish a new framework or model for eating disorder services that contains timelines for the achievement of each milestone, which should focus on early intervention and prevention, integrated care, support for families and other carers and investment in the workforce, including support for staff well-being. The publication of such a framework or model would demonstrate a renewed commitment from the Welsh Government to ensuring that the eating disorder service review shapes future services in Wales. The adoption of an ambitious, long-term vision for eating disorder services would also very likely play a key role in staff recruitment as well as, crucially, retention.

In order to make the implementation of a new framework or service model achievable, changes are needed to ensure sufficient and equitable investment in eating disorder services across Wales. A community child and adolescent mental health services clinician told Beat that, if the Welsh Government wants this development, they need to be very clear and directive to the health boards.

The Welsh Government should specify a minimum spend on eating disorders from the service improvement funding that it allocates to health boards, and hold health boards to account over their investment in eating disorders.

As has been noted, including yesterday in the Chamber, we know that 78 per cent of patients referred to the specialist child and adolescent mental health services are left waiting for over four weeks for their first appointment, and waiting times for mental health services for young people are now the worst on record. These are young people who have been deemed to require urgent, specialist treatment, and yet they’re being made to wait over a month to even be seen. We must have robust provision in place so that patients can receive the best possible treatment at the earliest opportunity, before their situation worsens.

The national clinical lead for eating disorders has provided valuable support to health boards, services and clinicians across Wales. The extent of the challenges facing services and continued variation in service provision across Wales underlines the importance of a central resource to help guide improvements. The Welsh Government should make the position of national clinical lead for eating disorders a permanent post. And during 2021 the national clinical lead has often consulted with people that have lived experience of eating disorders to help inform her work and that of health boards. This must now be built on to ensure that the voices of patients and families are always heard in the development of services, both at the national and local levels.

Beat found that there are significant gaps in the data on eating disorders that is collated by health boards. If this continues, it will limit the ability to monitor progress and deliver accountability. An eating disorders audit is expected to be commissioned in 2022, and at present this audit is only due to cover England, but it could be extended to also cover Wales.

The Welsh Government should fund an eating disorders clinical audit as part of efforts to ensure that all health boards collect and report a standard and comprehensive set of high-quality data. I hope that we can work cross-party to achieve this motion today. Diolch.