Young people with eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia are to gain access to specialist support across England after the NHS announced plans to scale up an early intervention service.

The new service is to be rolled out across 18 sites in England, building on a successful scheme developed and trialled at King’s College London and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, with support from the Health Foundation. 

The expanded service, which has been described as “the gold standard” of care, will target those who have been living with an eating disorder for fewer than three years. It aims to reduce waiting times, tackle problems before they escalate and improve patient outcomes.

Professor Tim Kendall, NHS England’s national clinical director for mental health, commented that the roll out “will support our ambition to meet the rising demand for support to tackle young people’s ill health.”