Eating Disorders Service: South Essex

The Eating Disorders Service is a specialist psychological treatment service designed to assess and treat moderate to severe eating disorders.

This service is an Essex-wide service delivered from two main bases; one in Colchester and one in Pitsea.

We primarily help people who are suffering with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and variations of these eating disorders. We offer a range of therapies which are evidence-based within the NICE guidelines for eating disorders.

We know that early intervention in eating disorders can make a real difference. We are able to offer “FREED” (First Episode Rapid Early intervention in Eating Disorders) in West Essex, South East Essex and North East Essex only at the moment.
The FREED pathway ensures those between the ages of 18-25, with a first presentation of an eating disorder that has been present for less than 3 years will be offered increased opportunity to engage with specialist services. We endeavour to contact the patient within 48 hours of referral to start engaging the patient, and if appropriate will offer an assessment within 2 weeks. After a multidisciplinary team discussion to discussion suitability to receive an evidence-based NICE guideline treatment for an eating disorder then treatment will be started within 4 weeks.

Please visit FREED for more information.

FREED patient service charter

The FREED patient service charter has been developed in partnership with patients and clinical staff.

The FREED patient service charter provides a common language reflecting both the clinician and patient view of ‘what good looks like’ when receiving support from the FREED service and states the priority outcomes the service needs to achieve. The wording of the FREED patient service charter provides a benchmark for inclusion in future FREED service monitoring and evaluations.

Team provide the following:

• daycare provision including therapeutic groups and lunchtime and snack support
• medical monitoring including blood test’s for those on the high-risk pathway
• specialist assessment for eating disorders
• dietetic Input
• evidence based psychological therapies such as MANTRA, CBT-e, SSCM.
• therapy groups (such as ongoing bulimia group)
• referral onto Specialist Eating Disorder Unit’s if appropriate.
• carers group

Service consists of:

• head of service
• service lead
• head of psychological therapies
• psychological therapist
• assistant psychologists
• consultant psychiatrist
• GP’s with and extended role of working in the field of eating disorders
• dietitian
• FREED coordinator
• nurse practitioners
• occupational therapist
• senior physical health support workers
• senior support workers
• administrative support

The team offers a range of therapies including: weight and diet monitoring, specialist supportive clinical management, family therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, Maudsley Anorexia Nervosa Treatment for Adults (MANTRA).

Please ask for a referral from one of the following:

• GP
• health professional

We are unable to accept self referrals to this service at the moment.

In the first instance you will need to book an appointment with your general practitioner (GP) to discuss your concerns.  Depending on your needs your GP may refer you to the mental health nurse or mental health team, in order for a diagnosis to be made.  If appropriate you may then be referred to the eating disorders service.  The referrer would usually provide us with information about you, including your body mass index (BMI=weight in kg/ height in metres squared=kg/m²), history of eating problems, current eating behaviour and type of eating disorder. We do not accept direct referrals from members of the public.

There may be instances whereby we work together with other mental health services to enable all identified needs to be met. This may include you being allocated a care coordinator within the mental health team, reviews with your sector consultant psychiatrist or attending other interventions within the community mental health team such as psychology or occupational therapy.