THE NUMBER of children receiving treatment for eating disorders in Dorset has rocketed in a year.

Monthly referrals for treatment rose by up to 42 per cent as young people struggled to deal with the pandemic and periods of lockdown.

NHS England data reveals that 64 children and young people aged under 19 started treatment for urgent cases of eating disorders at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Trust last year.

A further 76 under-19s began treatment for routine cases in 2020.

Just half of those started treatment within prescribed waiting times.

But now Dorset Healthcare has increased staffing levels to deal with the backlog and is on track to meet waiting time guidleines by the end of next month.

Its Consultant Nurse for Eating Disorders Dr Ciarán Newell said: "There has been a surge in demand for eating disorder services across the country to support young people.

"In Dorset our service saw a year-on-year increase in referrals between 2019 and 2020 of 21 per cent, while the amount of monthly referrals which were urgent rose from eight per cent to an average of more than 30 per cent during 2020 – peaking at 42 per cent in July. This increase in demand affected our waiting times, as we focused our resources on dealing with urgent cases.

"However, following investment from the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group this year, we have increased our staffing capacity and are now back on track to meet waiting times guidance by the Government’s target date of March 31.

Mental health charities say the national rise in demand for help with eating disorders during the Covid-19 pandemic is "deeply worrying".

The figures cover treatment for conditions such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders.

Between October and December, 700 urgent cases were seen across England – more than for any other three-month period since records began in 2016-17 and well above the 377 treated over the same period a year earlier.

Routine cases also increased to a record 2,554.

Tom Madders of mental health charity YoungMinds said: "The factors behind eating disorders are often complex, but the pandemic has left many young people isolated, uncertain about the future and less in control. Many may also have lost access to their usual routines and coping mechanisms.

"Early support can make a huge difference and prevent problems from escalating."

Minister for mental health, Nadine Dorries, said: "I know just how important it is that people with an eating disorder get the support they need when they need it.

"We are investing more each year in community eating disorder services for adults, children and young people. We know early intervention is vital which is why NHS England is launching early intervention services for young people with eating disorders, meaning they could begin treatment within two weeks."

An NHS spokeswoman said: "The pandemic turned lives upside down and hit young people particularly hard, but community eating disorder services continue to step up to treat increasing numbers that require care."