England Faces Eating Disorder Care Delays

Published: 17 December 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Adults in England are experiencing record delays in accessing treatment for serious eating disorders. The newly released National Audit of Eating Disorders (NAED) report highlights a widening gap between child and adult services, with adults often waiting more than 700 days for treatment. This stark figure represents an urgent public health concern, drawing attention to the unequal distribution of resources across the country.

The NAED audit, commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership and funded by NHS England, collected data between January and May 2025. Its findings reveal significant disparities in service provision, showing that more community and inpatient teams are available for children than for adults. Children and young people benefit from 93 community teams and 54 inpatient teams, whereas adults have only 69 community teams and 33 inpatient teams, intensifying the struggle for adult patients seeking care.

On average, adults wait twice as long as children for initial assessments and over ten times longer for treatment. For children, the median wait for community assessment is 14 days, with treatment provided within four days for most cases, though some face waits of up to 450 days. Adults, by contrast, encounter a median assessment wait of 28 days and a median treatment wait of 42 days, with extreme cases taking up to 700 days.

Currently, 3,855 adults are waiting for an assessment, while 4,537 are awaiting treatment from community care teams. The report indicates that 71% of these waiting lists are caused by “demand exceeding capacity,” highlighting systemic strain within adult eating disorder services.

Tom Quinn, director of external affairs at Beat, the UK eating disorder charity, emphasised the importance of the audit as a foundational step toward improving services for adults. He acknowledged the efforts of community care staff but warned that patients often face “devastating” news when no local support exists. Quinn also highlighted a postcode lottery affecting certain conditions, such as binge eating disorder, ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), and night eating syndrome, further exacerbating inequities in treatment access.

Quinn added that the courage required to seek help can be undermined by delays and limited service availability. He called for intensive community or day services to be accessible near patients’ homes, which research suggests produces better outcomes for those living with eating disorders.

NHS England responded by acknowledging the audit’s findings and stressing the progress made in treating children within two weeks. Officials stated a commitment to ensuring consistent, timely access for all age groups. Every local health system now provides at least one specialist eating disorder service for adults and children. NHS teams are expected to use this data to reduce waiting times and improve nationwide service provision.

NHS England further encouraged individuals struggling with eating disorders to contact their local GP promptly, ensuring early access to available services. Meanwhile, Beat provides support within the UK through its helpline at 0808 801 0677. In the US, resources are available via nationaleatingdisorders.org or ANAD’s hotline at 800-375-7767. Australian residents can contact the Butterfly Foundation at 1800 33 4673, and further international helplines are listed on Eating Disorder Hope.

The NAED report paints a sobering picture of adult eating disorder care in England. It underlines the urgent need for increased resources, better access, and equitable service provision to prevent the most vulnerable from enduring prolonged delays. Stakeholders are calling for strategic planning, targeted funding, and localised service delivery to bridge the gap between child and adult care, ensuring every patient receives timely and appropriate treatment.

With prolonged waits, lack of local options, and inconsistent service quality, adults living with eating disorders face immense challenges. National charities, healthcare providers, and policymakers are now united in advocating for change, emphasising early intervention, accessibility, and equity. The audit’s findings serve as both a wake-up call and a roadmap for the urgent reforms needed to reduce the mental and physical health burden caused by untreated eating disorders.