Hey everyone!

As you know on 30 June 2021, I hosted, alongside the ‘Hearts, Minds and Genes’ coalition for Eating Disorders hosted a closed Government Roundtable to map out the Landscape of Eating Disorders in 2021.

The roundtable discussion Co-Chaired by John McDonnell MP and I brought together experts from the field, as well as cross-party support to look at workforce, research, and the lack of treatment available to people affected by eating disorders.

MPs that attended the Roundtable have added their names to a letter that has been sent to Sajid Javid, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which emphasises that “an issue as serious as this needs urgent ministerial attention, a timeframe in place, proper investment that needs to be ring-fenced...”

Letter signers include but are not limited to: Baroness Kate Parminter, Baroness Deborah Bull, Sir Peter James Bottomley MP, Wera Hobhouse MP, Sarah Champion MP, Caroline Lucas MP, Judith Cummins MP, Claudia Webbe MP, Diane Abbott MP, Mick Whitley MP

There is still a way to go but I feel that we are making progress with this!

Later on today the letter will be made public so please do keep an eye out for it on social media and share it far and wide!

But in the meantime please do copy and paste the below letter and send to the new Secretary of State!

The more noise we can make about this the better!

Suggested Letter (please do add your own personal experience too if you like!) 

Dear Mr Javid,

I am writing to you to ask you to show your support to the Hearts Minds and Genes Coalition for Eating Disorders, founded by Hope Virgo.

As you know, eating disorders are a growing problem. However, there is a vicious cycle between the lack of awareness, lack of training, lack of funding, and lack of research. The recent 2019 Health Survey found that 16% of adults aged 16 and over (19% of women and 13% of men) screened positive for a possible eating disorder 

As you are aware over Covid19 the rise in people with eating disorders has been huge with the pandemic having detrimental impacts on those affected by eating disorders, those in recovery and also in the development of new eating disorders. Right now, the support, treatment and understanding is just not out there.

I am keen to know what you are doing as Health Secretary to tackle this issue as a matter of urgency.

With the right funding, pathways, training in place eating disorders can be treated.

If we don’t act now, more and more people will lose their lives.

I look forward to hearing from you