Lunch & Learn: International Eating Disorder Reflections from Stephen Watkins
- Claire Hunter
- Apr 14
- 1 min read
Catch up on this insightful session with Stephen Watkins, Associate Non‑Executive Director at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, former Director of NHS Benchmarking Network and 2024 Churchill Fellow, as he shares his international research on tackling the widening treatment gap in eating disorders care.
Drawing on decades of experience supporting national mental health policy through the NHS Benchmarking Network, Stephen’s recent fellowship took him to Australia, New Zealand, and Sweden to study how countries with established national strategies are improving access, strengthening early intervention, and embedding lived experience into service design. His findings highlight the stark contrast with the UK, where adult eating disorder services continue to operate without a national strategy despite rising prevalence and demand.
Stephen discusses what he learned from systems that have embraced clear political commitment, structured care pathways, digital therapy innovations, and culturally responsive approaches and how these insights could inform a transformative, achievable strategy for the UK.
The NHS Benchmarking Network are pleased to offer this rare opportunity to hear first‑hand evidence from global leaders in eating disorders care and to consider what meaningful change could look like for patients, carers, and services across the UK.
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