Care package for young people with eating disorders has expanded

Young people living with eating disorders will receive specialist treatment more quickly following the expansion of a new care package by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).

First episode Rapid Early intervention for Eating Disorders, FREED, which currently sees patients receive first contact from a specialist within 48 hours of referral and a face-to-face appointment within two weeks in west Essex will now be able to access it in South West Essex and South East Essex.

Launched in west Essex last May, FREED aimed to reduce the length of time people aged 18 to 25 live with untreated eating disorders and increase the likelihood of them making a full recovery.

FREED offers patients experiencing anorexia, bulimia, binge eating and other eating disorders a course of therapy tailored to their individual needs.  The therapy focuses on challenges faced by young people transitioning to adulthood including social media, moving away from home and entering employment.

FREED is already being used by NHS providers in other areas of the UK and has resulted in a reduction in waiting times for assessment and treatment, fewer patients dropping out of treatment, a reduction in the length of time young people live with an untreated eating disorder and fewer patients needing inpatient care away from home.

Since the expansion across parts of Essec over the past 4 months, referrals for patients that have been taken onto the FREED pathway have increased by 27.6%.

Marissa Hodson, clinical lead for Eating Disorders at EPUT, said: “Eating disorders typically develop in adolescence and early adulthood and lead to changes to a person’s brain, body and behaviour.  Early intervention is essential in reversing these changes and improving the likelihood of a full recovery.

“FREED is already being used by other NHS providers and in west Essex with much success and I’m really pleased that we can now roll it out across South West Essex and South East Essex to offer more rapid help to young people when they need it most.”

The FREED care package is suitable for people who are experiencing their first episode of eating disorder that is less than three years in duration.

Referrals for FREED IS via GP’s, Primary care therapies (IAPT/VitaMinds), Primary Care Mental Health Nurses, School Nurses and school/college pastoral services.

To find out more about FREED visit www.freedfromed.co.uk.

For any queries regarding referrals or the pathway please contact FREED coordinator for south Essex and south west Essex, Rachael Doulton, on 01268 243538.