Anorexics must be sent straight to specialist as soon as GPs are worried – rather than waiting because ‘they’re not thin enough’

DOCTORS must not delay referring anorexia patients until they have lost more weight, a watchdog warns.

New NHS guidelines order GPs to act “without delay” when they suspect an eating disorder.

It follows concerns that patients are not being offered specialist help because they are not thin enough.

The draft National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) advice says medics should look out for tell-tale signs, such as dramatic weight-loss, poor teeth and infrequent periods.

It also warns they must be extra vigilant when dealing with patients in “high risk” professions like sports, dancing and modelling.

The guidelines were uncovered by GP magazine Pulse.

Experts warn 725,000 Brits have an eating disorder.

Anorexia sufferers are six times more likely to die young.

One in three mental health trusts use weight to decide whether or not to accept patients with eating disorders, according to a BBC investigation earlier this year.

Girls and women were denied treatment because they were considered “not thin enough”.

But experts warn weight alone is a poor way of judging the severity of an eating disorder.

Under the new NHS rules, medics have been warned not to wait and see if matters get worse.

And they should refer even if local services are unable to cope.

Dr Andrew Green, chair of the British Medical Association’s GP committee told Pulse: “The suggestion from NICE to refer without delay is to be welcomed.

“The assessment of eating disorders is complex and requires skills and time which most GPs will not have.

“This is one area where low referral rates are not a sign of good practice.”

Tom Quinn, from eating disorder charity Beat, welcomed the new rules.

He said: “Early intervention is key in halting the onset and development of these serious mental illnesses affecting at least 725,000 people in the UK and it’s vital that GPs don’t hesitate in sending patients on to get the help they need.

“Given the high number of people affected it’s vital that GPs have proper training to be able to immediately recognise the early signs and symptoms of eating disorders and be able to direct their patient to specialist treatment.”

Earlier this week, it emerged English eating disorder patients are being sent to Scotland due to NHS bed shortages.

Campaigners warn teenagers and young adults are being transferred hundreds of miles for help.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the practice is “unacceptable” and work us under way to end it.