Plaid MEP Jill Evans, who represents the whole of Wales in the European Parliament, has welcomed the investment of resources by the One Wales Government to improving services for eating disorders sufferers.

Jill, who is Deputy President of Plaid Cymru, has long campaigned on this issue. She welcomed the announcement committing £1.5 million in this field.

“There are an estimated 56,000 sufferers in Wales and as many as one in five die as a result of their illness. In other words, eating disorders are only too common an illness, but one often ignored and untreated, with not enough done in terms of resources and strategy to deal with the issue.

“Now for the first time, an Assembly Government has committed substantial resources in this field, and I am pleased that it has happened when Plaid is a key part of that government.

"I have had several constituents suffering from eating disorders who have been unable to get treatment in Wales, and are often too ill to travel elsewhere.

"I welcome this commitment by the One Wales Government, which will ensure that we in Wales provide proper, essential services to those - often young people - suffering from life-threatening illness.

"I would like to thank all those who have campaigned for so long to get this on the political agenda."

Diwedd/Ends.

Notes Health Minister Edwina Hart has outlined new spending priorities for the next two years following the increased funding for health and social services announced in the One Wales government draft budget.

The money will help meet a range of the Welsh Assembly Government’s One Wales commitments.

It will include:

* £4m for neonatal services in Wales to improve care for smallest and most vulnerable babies;

* £1.5m to improve services for those suffering from eating disorders;

* 63m next year to ensure that by the end of December 2009 no patient will wait more than 26 weeks from primary care referral to treatment, with an extra £54m available in 2010/11;

* £16m next year, rising to £19m in 2010/11, for mental health services; and,

* £3.6m for the autism strategy.