AM Chairs Conference Meeting on Eating Disorders
11 Medi 2008
Plaid Cymru Assembly Member for South Wales West, Bethan Jenkins, has convened and chaired a fringe meeting on eating disorders at Plaid Cymru’s Conference in Aberystwyth.
The Assembly Member who chairs the Assembly’s Cross Party Group on Eating Disorders, was joined on the panel by Joy Jones, Chair of the All Wales Eating Disorders Special Interest Group, and Sarah Alldritt, a recovered sufferer of eating disorders.
Speaking from Aberystwyth today, Ms Jenkins said:
“For too long, this matter has not been high on the priority list for government, which is shocking when we consider the deep-rooted nature of this problem.
“There are around 56,000 eating disorders sufferers in Wales and according to the National Institute for Eating Disorders, one in five die as a result of their illness. According to the mental health charity Mind, as many as one woman in twenty will have eating patterns that are cause for concern, most will be aged between 14 -25.”
Sarah Alldritt said:
“I was fortunate enough to receive funding from Health Commission Wales and remain in the community during my treatment. Two of the major aims of the Cross Party Committee are to ensure that more people throughout Wales can access care and support in the community and that training is given to a range of health professionals to ensure that EDs are recognised and treated before hospitalisation becomes necessary.”
Chair of the All Wales Eating Disorders Special Interest Group Joy Jones added:
“I would like to express my appreciation for the work of the Cross Party Committee at the Assembly and to Bethan Jenkins AM as its chair. Eating Disorders has never before had such a high profile on the Welsh Assembly Government agenda and we look forward with optimism to meaningful developments in ED service provision over the next few years.”
