Agenda item

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Trevethan introduced her Member’s Item. 

Councillor Trevethan advised that she wished to receive a detailed report containing up-to-date data which answered the questions set out in her Member’s Item as set out below:

1. What is the prevalence of eating disorders amongst young people (under 18 year olds) in Barnet? Is the prevalence increasing?
2. What are understood to be the common causes of eating disorders and what research is taking place at a local or national level to identify possible causes and/or contributory factors?
3. Information on a treatment plan/referral plan for a young person diagnosed with an eating disorder but not requiring inpatient treatment?
4. At what stage/severity would admission to hospital be required?
5. What are the long-term complications arising from eating disorders; and national rates of recovery and mortality?
6. Does evidence suggest that suffering from an eating disorder increases an individual’s risk of suicide and attempted suicide?
7. What work is taking place to improve data on eating disorder prevalence and can we have a timescale as to when up-to-date data for England and for the local area will be published?
8. How important is early diagnosis in patient outcomes and what factors would assist early and correct diagnosis?

A Member suggested that the report should highlight work that was currently taking place to tackle eating disorders as well as future policy.

The Chairman invited Councillor Helena Hart, the Chairman of the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board, to the table.  Councillor Hart informed the Committee that, should the Committee wish to commission a report, both Public Health and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) should be involved.  She also noted that a relevant strategy was being formulated and suggested that the topic of self-harm be considered within the report.

Councillor Trevethen commented that she would also like the report to highlight:

·         The prevalence of eating disorders in young people locally and nationally

·         Information on treatment plans for young people

·         The long term implications of eating disorders

·         Information as to what the relevant agencies were doing to tackle the issue and how they are looking to improve the effectiveness of treatment

·         The importance of early intervention and what work was being undertaken to ensure early diagnosis and the commencement of treatment.

The Committee requested that Dr. Howe, the Director of Public Health (Harrow and Barnet Councils) work with the Clinical Commissioning Group in order to produce a report.  

RESOLVED that the Committee requests a report at their next meeting on the issues as set out above. 

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Trevethan introduced her Member’s Item. 

Councillor Trevethan advised that she wished to receive a detailed report containing up-to-date data which answered the questions set out in her Member’s Item as set out below:

9. What is the prevalence of eating disorders amongst young people (under 18 year olds) in Barnet? Is the prevalence increasing?
10. What are understood to be the common causes of eating disorders and what research is taking place at a local or national level to identify possible causes and/or contributory factors?
11. Information on a treatment plan/referral plan for a young person diagnosed with an eating disorder but not requiring inpatient treatment?
12. At what stage/severity would admission to hospital be required?
13. What are the long-term complications arising from eating disorders; and national rates of recovery and mortality?
14. Does evidence suggest that suffering from an eating disorder increases an individual’s risk of suicide and attempted suicide?
15. What work is taking place to improve data on eating disorder prevalence and can we have a timescale as to when up-to-date data for England and for the local area will be published?
16. How important is early diagnosis in patient outcomes and what factors would assist early and correct diagnosis?

A Member suggested that the report should highlight work that was currently taking place to tackle eating disorders as well as future policy.

The Chairman invited Councillor Helena Hart, the Chairman of the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board, to the table.  Councillor Hart informed the Committee that, should the Committee wish to commission a report, both Public Health and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) should be involved.  She also noted that a relevant strategy was being formulated and suggested that the topic of self-harm be considered within the report.

Councillor Trevethen commented that she would also like the report to highlight:

·         The prevalence of eating disorders in young people locally and nationally

·         Information on treatment plans for young people

·         The long term implications of eating disorders

·         Information as to what the relevant agencies were doing to tackle the issue and how they are looking to improve the effectiveness of treatment

·         The importance of early intervention and what work was being undertaken to ensure early diagnosis and the commencement of treatment.

The Committee requested that Dr. Howe, the Director of Public Health (Harrow and Barnet Councils) work with the Clinical Commissioning Group in order to produce a report.  

RESOLVED that the Committee requests a report at their next meeting on the issues as set out above.