If you, or your loved one, think that difficulties with eating could be an Eating Disorder, please see your GP or health professional right away as this would also be your first step before coming to us at Ellern Mede Community Services.. Your GP can refer you to an appropriate service. Ellern Mede Community Services consider applications based on GP-supplied medical assessments including blood tests.

Our Triage prior to appointment booking will require a report from a clinician or GP which will need to include:

• vital signs, patient weight, height and age
• full count blood tests taken the week you are being referred
• Ellern Mede referral form which MUST accurately reflect that patient case is not an immediate risk
• View from professional that patient is NOT red on either the Junior or Adult MARSIPAN scale or RCPsych’s MEED guidance, whichever the professional is using.
• Prior to seeing your doctor, and to help you know what to ask for, you may find it useful to download and read these documents
• RCPsych MEED guidance
• BEAT GP Leaflet
• Junior MARSIPAN Summary

Admission Criteria

Our Community Treatments are for people aged 12 to 25. We have a triage process to risk-assess to see if you are well enough to receive treatment in the community. Payment can be self-funded, through medical insurance, or any other agreed funding source. Our multi-therapeutic assessment comes with a full report and recommendations for your individualised treatment. If you do not wish to proceed, we will give you helpful advice.

BMI is NOT the most important part of an ED diagnosis however do please note that if you have a BMI of under 15, you probably need a more intensive programme than Ellern Mede Outpatients can offer. We may recommend UK patients remain within an NHS CAMHS or Adult Community Service as a first priority, as we would not want to risk your place if you are on an NHS waiting list. If you are, but still wish to proceed, please discuss this with your current treatment team. We do collaborate with your other providers when this is advisable.

What to expect

You will receive focused individualised clinician to client and family therapy.  We offer face to face, online, sessional or day treatments as well as psychological support services and meal support in the client home. Our specialist therapeutic care is NICE-concordant and evidence-based.

We will rely on your GP or other medical professional for physical monitoring throughout any Community Treatment Plan. Your local Accident and  Emergency is your best first contact in any medical or mental health crisis.

Q&A

Why do I need my GP to arrange blood tests and a physical examination before I apply for community treatment?

We are a specialist psychiatry-led service. As a community patient, you should rely on your usual primary care provider to be available for emergencies that might arise. Your most up to date full medical information is important for us to know about iso we can continuously risk assess and support you throughout your treatment. Blood Tests show us exactly what physical effect your eating disorder is having on your body. Physical stabilisation is essential before psychological and psychiatric interventions can be of help to you. You also depend on the country’s Emergency Services as eating disorders are serious illnesses. You may at times be taken ill very suddenly. Our community service is unable to provide emergency care. Our team will establish that link with your GP or health professional at the outset.

What reasons could there be for not being accepted for a Community Eating Disorder Programme?

You may urgently need more intensive care than can be provided in a community setting. If you are so physically affected by an eating disorder that you need urgent care of the type only possible as an Inpatient, we will be unable to offer a Community Eating Disorder Programme. This is the reason for our risk assessment prior to accepting your case. If an Ellern Mede consultant psychiatrist believes you are ‘red’ in a Junior or Adult MARSIPAN or MEED assessment, they will advise you that you need more intensive care and will advise you to seek a crisis pathway in your locality.

Why can’t I be fast accessed to an Ellern Mede inpatient bed?

Ellern Mede does not accept emergency admissions. There is always a waiting list for Ellern Mede inpatient beds. If you need an inpatient bed immediately, it is important that you take up that treatment in whatever hospital you are offered as soon as possible. While inpatient treatment is essential in certain cases, its length of stay and cost is one best provided by the NHS in the UK. Ellern Mede does receive referrals from the NHS. Medical insurance may sometimes agree to short term care, but this almost never fully covers the cost of a full inpatient episode. Ellern Mede has a limited number of inpatient beds in comparison to the NHS. There is always a waiting list for Ellern Mede inpatient beds, whether the case is through the NHS or through private funding.

How do I make an enquiry for Ellern Mede Community Eating Disorder Service?

Please fill in the private referral enquiry form on our website or call our Community Line on 07583 669226.

If you are medically at risk and have been ill for a long time without effective treatment, please talk to your current treatment team about an inpatient service. In the UK, treatment collaboratives who work with Ellern Mede  may be able to refer you on a publicly-funded route. Private inpatient treatment is seldom available without a waiting list and we recommend publicly-funded services as your best inpatient option.