HC Deb 17 July 2003 vol 409 cc639-40W
Mr. Paul Marsden

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the maximum travelling distance is for patients with anorexia to travel to specialist health care services. [125097]

Ms Rosie Winterton

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Wednesday 16 July. Information is not collected centrally about the travelling distances that may be involved when patients are referred for treatment for this severe condition. However, Professor Louis Appleby, national director for mental health, is leading a new programme of work to review provision of specialised services in a number fof areas. Specialised services for people with anorexia are being considered first. Alongside the guideline being developed by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, this will be of great benefit to those with responsibility for developing services for this severe condition.