Referrals

The service can offer assessment and treatment to adult patients (aged 18 or over) with a range of eating disorders. Patients presenting with eating disorder symptoms such as bingeing, self-induced vomiting, dietary restriction or intentional weight loss etc., can be referred and will be considered for assessment. We have no BMI criteria for access to our services however we do not offer treatment for selective eating, rumination disorder or obesity per se.

Referrals are accepted from

GP's (via PRISM form)
General Adult Psychiatric Services
Community Services
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services

All referrals must be sent in writing by post or email.

Referral letters should include the following:

Body mass index (BMI)or height and weight
Information about rate of weight loss
Information on eating disorder symptoms
Information on mental state and any identified psychiatric or physical risk factors, including past psychiatric history.
Relevant test results including blood tests, ECG and bone scans.

This information allows the service to allocate the referral to an appropriate assessor within a suitable timescale. Patients will receive a letter asking them to telephone the service to arrange an assessment appointment. Routine referrals are generally seen within 10 -12 weeks though more urgent cases will be seen sooner.

The assessment appointment will be with an experienced clinician and usually lasts between one and one and half hours. Patients are usually seen individually in the first instance. We are happy to see relatives/carers with the patient at the end of the assessment if the patient concerned gives their consent. Patients are often seen for a second assessment at which time options for therapy will be discussed if appropriate and an agreement as to whether the patient wishes to be placed on the waiting list for therapy. Patients will then wait until a regular therapy time becomes available. If clinically required they may see the assessor for interim reviews and ongoing management until a therapy slot becomes available.

The service does not offer crisis or emergency support and patients need to contact the GP or out of hours services at other times.