Eating Disorders Framework
Posted on Monday, July 13, 2009 at 7:10pm
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The Health Minister formally announced the Welsh Assembly Government’s Framework to treat eating disorders in Wales last Friday. In today’s Western Mail, I have written an article on the new framework, and outline my opinion on it. You can read it here. I am so pleased that there is finally a framework on eating disorders. Yes, campaigners have been waiting ten years for such a government led initiative, but we have to look forward positively now, and ensure that it is implemented effectively, and that the cross party group on eating disorders monitors it on a regular basis.
I want to say thank you to everyone who has been involved in the cross party group in lobbying the Minister to implement this framework, and in being so persistent in making sure that it happened!
I know this sounds like the Oscars now, but it is important to thank Edwina Hart again for listening to us, meeting with delegations of the cross party group, and being pro active. She could easily have ignored us, or swept the issue to one side, but she opened consultation on a framework, and has given money to develop services.
We will continue to campaign obviously- especially given the fact that one of our core aims as a group is to campaign for an NHS based in patient centre in Wales- dedicated to treating eating disorders. I won’t be put off by the tight financial settlement. Even if it takes quite a few years, I think its worth keeping at it. Scotland has opened such as centre recently in Aberdeen, and I’m speaking to the brains behind the venture next week in the hope of organising a conference call for our next cross party group meeting on the 29th of September at the Senedd.
So I’ll leave it at that, and hope that this policy is successful, and that Wales can lead the way in relation to this most important issue.
