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, General Adult Psychiatric Services, Community Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. All referrals must be sent in writing by post or fax. 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.

Referrals for inpatient treatment may be made by clinicians who work in eating disorder services across the East Midlands region. Referrals for outpatient services may be made by clinicans working in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

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 appropriate and evidence based options for treatment will be discussed. If outpatient therapy is indicated the patient will be placed on the waiting list for therapy 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. Patients requiring inpatient treatment will be clinically monitored as required until a bed 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.