James Evans wants to see a specialist eating disorder centre set up in Wales,

The Brecon and Radnorshire MS said at the Senedd that people in his constituency and across Wales are having to leave the country to access specialist eating disorder services.

He said the charity, Beat, has called on the Welsh Government to ensure specialist treatment is made available in Wales at the earliest opportunity. 

Mr Evans told First Minister Mark Drakeford: “A Government spokesperson said you were working with NHS Wales to scope the feasibility of a specialist eating disorder unit here in Wales.

“Can you confirm what progress you have made on this? When are we going to have a specialist eating disorder service centre in Wales to serve the people who need it?”

Mr Drakeford said it’s always been the case that, in Wales, it is sometimes clinically better for people to access specialist services provided across the border.

He told Mr Evans: “Sometimes, with a population of three million people, a specialist service will be better provided across our border. 

“That has always been the case over 20 years and, for certain specialisms, it will continue to be the case in the future.”