A life-changing service transforming the lives of patients with eating disorders across the East Midlands has won a national award.

The digitally-delivered Waterlily programme has been named Community Care Initiative of the Year in the Health Service Journal’s patient safety awards.

In the past those with a severe eating disorder had to wait for a place in the region’s only inpatient specialist ward in Leicester, or be sent further afield.

But now those who don’t need an inpatient stay can access a similar service delivered through video conferencing to a device in their own home. This means they can continue treatment over the course of several months surrounded by family, friends, in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

The inpatient ward is still available for patients who need it.

Sandra Marshall, the project lead, welcomed the national award. She said: “We are really, really pleased.

“It is bridging a gap for a cohort of patients who are at risk, and it is allowing them to be treated in the community rather than having lengthy inpatient admissions.”

The digital service was set up two years ago as a pilot programme, initially for those living in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. It has now been extended for those in Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire.

Both the inpatient and digital services are commissioned by the East Midlands Eating Disorder Provider Collaborative, which is hosted by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust.

Sandra Marshall said: “We have created additional capacity by opening the digital service.

“It’s going very well. We have received phenomenal feedback.”

The service, known as Waterlily, currently operates five days a week. Each day of support through the service starts with patients being supported via video conferencing apps to have breakfast in their own homes.

They spend the rest of the week having a variety of group and individual therapy sessions, again through a device, supported lunches, and a supported evening meal once a week.

On Fridays they have a session to help them plan their eating across the weekend.

Although the majority of the care is delivered remotely, there are also opportunities for face-to-face sessions with suitably qualified healthcare professionals.

Sandra Marshall said although the inpatient ward was still an option, it meant patients would leave behind their homes for months at a time.

Having the virtual service has proved a cost effective, safe and impactful alternative to a ward environment.

48 patients have taken up the option of joining the programme since it began, although some of those have chosen not to complete the whole programme.

Examples of feedback received include the following:

“I have improved in every aspect of my physical and mental health. Even though I still have a long way to go, I am in a much better place to continue my journey. I can’t thank Waterlily enough. It really saved my life​.”

“Without this programme, our daughter would not be making the progress that she is and we cannot thanks the Waterlily team enough.”

“The support we have received as been incredible!”

“It has been amazing, it has flown by and I wish that I had a few more weeks to restore my weight further. The positivity, knowledge, support and advice is just never ending and I have found 16 weeks of Waterlily far more helpful than three 6-month long admissions. Thank you Waterlily.”

“I honestly feel that Waterlily has changed my life for the better. 16 weeks ago, I felt so hopeless, physically weak and unhappy that I did not know if I had the capacity to attempt to recover as I felt so stuck in my struggles. Waterlily has put me in the best place I have been mentally since being diagnosed and the support and knowledge of the staff and fellow patients has helped me to address and admit to things which have held me back in the past and hindered full recovery previously.”