Three-quarters of children waiting for eating disorder treatment in Lancaster district face crucial delays

It comes as Royal College of Psychiatrists analysis showed more than half of NHS integrated care boards plan to reduce specialist eating disorder funding this year.

A charity said it is "incredibly disappointed" with the number of children and young people waiting to access support, and urged the Government and NHS leaders to increase investment in eating disorder services.

NHS England figures show around 120 children and young people in the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board area were waiting to access eating disorder treatment as of the end of December.

Its guidance says under 19s with an urgent eating disorder referral should receive treatment within one week, while this rises to four weeks for routine ones.

In Lancashire and South Cumbria, around five children and young people with an urgent referral and about 85 with a routine referral had been waiting longer than the recommended time.

It meant 75% of children and young people yet to receive support were waiting too long for treatment.

Nationally, 6,097 people with an eating disorder referral were still waiting for treatment at the end of last year.

Of those, 758 had an urgent eating disorder referral that had been open for more than a week, and 4,283 had a routine referral that had been open for more than four weeks.

It meant around 83% of children with a referral faced crucial delays.

Tom Quinn, director of external affairs at eating disorder charity Beat, said: "We’re incredibly disappointed that so many children and young people suffering with eating disorders are being forced to wait long periods of time for the treatment they desperately need.

"Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses; starting specialist treatment as soon as possible increases the chances of making a full recovery.

"It’s not fair on families and young people to be left picking up the pieces while waiting for care."

Mr Quinn warned eating disorder services are not sufficiently funded, and urged the Government and NHS leaders to increase investment.

Across England, there were 501 children with an urgent referral and 3,263 children with a routine referral who had been waiting more than 12 weeks for treatment as of the end of December.

In Lancashire and South Cumbria, five children with an urgent referral and 55 children with a routine referral had been waiting more than 12 weeks.

An NHS spokesperson said: "The NHS is clear that improving care for people with eating disorders is vital, with investment, targeted support and training helping to develop community eating disorder teams in all areas in England.

"More work needs to be done, which is why the NHS is updating its guidance on children and young people’s eating disorders – increasing the focus on early identification and intervention as well as ensuring swift access to specialist support as soon as an eating disorder is suspected."

If you’re worried about your own or someone else’s health, you can contact Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity on 0808 801 0677.