30.01.14
Eating disorder hospital admissions up 8%
The number of admissions to hospital for an eating disorder has risen by 8%, new figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show.
In the 12 months to October 2013, there were 2,560 admissions. Patients with eating disorders were more likely to stay in hospital for a longer period of time than other admissions, and one in seven patients stayed longer than six months.
Data shows that 91% of patients admitted with an eating disorder were female, with the most common age of admission 15 years old. Three in four admissions were for anorexia and the highest rate of admissions was in the North East and South West SHAs. West Midlands SHA had the lowest rate of admissions, with 3.5 per 100,000 of the population.
HSCIC chair Kingsley Manning said: “Today’s report shows a national increase in the demand placed on hospitals by patients with an eating disorder.
“Hospitals not only dealt with more patients with an eating disorder than last year but compared to other admission types patients with these disorders tend to stay longer in hospital, which will be of significant interest to staff caring for these patients and and those planning services.”
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