Eating Disorder Treatment and Programmes
Personalised modular inpatient and outpatient eating disorder and disordered eating treatment programmes are available across the Ellern Mede patient pathway. Programmes include short-stay symptom interruption or intervention from a few days to a few weeks; partial hospitalisation; short-term inpatient care through to longer-term inpatient programmes. We treat all types of eating disorders and have an extensive experience in treating eating disorders at all stages, from the first diagnosis, through treatment-resistance, to severe and enduring cases.
Family Therapy Based Programmes for Inpatients and their Families
Ellern Mede’s specialist Family Therapists support patients and their families, drawing on family strengths and relationships to support recovery. The philosophy of care behind Ellern Mede’s family therapy work emphasises two important principles: the cause of the eating disorder is unknown; we recognise the essential role of the family in recovery.
Read more about our approach to family support and working with families here
Ellern Mede Inpatient Treatment Programmes
Inpatient Treatment Programmes are available for patients aged 8 – 18 and 18+. Our group includes Ellern Mede Ridgeway in Mill Hill, Ellern Mede Barnet, Queensway Hospital in Rotherham. A range of modular inpatient programmes can be offered to suit the patient and family needs, ranging from short term inpatient care to longer term inpatient care. We can help, whatever the stage of eating disorder or complex presentation of the patient, whether it is early in the diagnosis or following multiple previous treatments. Our treatment for eating disorders and disordered eating is impressive with an excellent track record of patient recovery. We have low readmission, evidencing sustained patient health, following discharge. We receive very positive feedback from former patients and their families. All programmes aim to deliver weight restoration, medical and psychiatric health, well being and post discharge support. Throughout inpatient stays there is a close link between the patient, the patient family and the clinical team.
Ellern Mede High Dependency Inpatient Programme for Children
One of Ellern Mede’s longest running and most effective inpatient programmes are High Dependency Programmes, most often purchased by NHS England on behalf of young people. This is offered both at Ellern Mede Ridgeway. We are renowned for achieving results with young patients with severe and enduring eating disorders cases where many other specialist units have been unable to do so. Patients with highly complex, challenging or chronic conditions emerge from treatment, which does take time, with the coping skills they need to live a successful and healthy life independently, and without relapse and readmission. We are also expert in treating patients with Pervasive Arousal Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS).
Young people who are, at admission, resistant to treatment, severely medically compromised, and who may have a history of serious self-harm and risk are protected and make amazing progress. We never give up, and our results continue to transform results for patients, professionals and families.
Our high dependency service provides both medical and psychiatric treatment, specialised equipment, adapted facilities to cater for patients with limited mobility or more intense physical needs. Equipment includes cardiac monitors, defibrillators, hoists, profile beds, disability bathrooms and bedrooms and lifts. We offer medical and nursing interventions and laboratory investigations. We can provide naso-gastric feeds, pump feeds and gastrostomy feeding. These interventions are supported with high levels of specialised nursing, regular medical monitoring, psycho-social interventions, family therapy, and dietetic services.
Ellern Mede Recovery Programmes
The Ellern Mede Eating Disorder Recovery Programmes on our general wards provide physical and psychiatric stabilisation with the aim of a shorter length of stay than is necessary in high dependency wards. We admit both private and NHS patients. Everything the patient experiences in our unit has a therapeutic aspect to it, from therapy to activities and meals. Treatment is recovery-focused. Many of our patients will also attend Ellern Mede School, which is a separate funding arrangement through the relevant local authority, or privately funded.
For those patients who are able to eat with staff support we use a ‘graded’ table system combined with community based activity such as social eating.
Many patients are referred through NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health services (CAMHS) and return to CAMHS care in the community post discharge. We are happy to consider private patients for Post Discharge and Transition support or to offer that service to Commissioners, local authorities and social care bodies. Many patients come to Ellern Mede through no- NHS funded means, both from UK and other countries. We are also recognised by most medical insurers in the UK.
Each patient has an individual treatment programme and their own meal plan, developed with the support of our specialist dietetic team. Family Therapy supports both patient and the family. We promote the centrality of the family in providing support at home.
We provide weekly Multi Disciplinary Team (MDT) reports on the progress of your child. Every week you and your child submit your views to be included in this report. feedback to our treating team.
Home leave is a key part of the rehabilitation phase of this treatment. We work towards discharge and provide the opportunity for the young people and their families to practise the skills they have acquired through treatment.
Referrals
Ellern Mede has provided Tier 4 specialist treatment services (including Eating Disorders) to the NHS and private patients for over 20 years. We aim to respond to referrals within 48 hours.