Eating disorders – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

We offer specialist environments to meet the specific needs of young people suffering from a range of eating disorders such as:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Binge eating disorder (BED)

Service overview

• Individualised psychological treatment in line with best practice
• High quality, proactive services
• Training, education and support for families and carers
• Evidence-based family therapy programmes
• Specialised management of physical health issues in accordance with national Management of Really Sick Patients with Anorexia Nervosa (MARSIPAN) guidelines

Our approach

Our teams ensure that young people receive treatment that includes consideration of their physical, psychological and social needs. We help a young person to develop the skills and motivation to manage their eating habits, thoughts and behaviours, so as to continue their progress towards recovery and a full life in the community, where possible.

In the early phase of admission, physical activity may need to be limited. Close monitoring of a young person’s physical health may need to include daily blood tests and electrocardiograms (ECGs) as per national guidelines. Once a young person is physically stable, activity levels are increased and there is the expectation that the young person works towards a healthier weight.

Towards the latter part of admission, young people take more responsibility around choices, begin to challenge themselves by eating outside of the hospital in a variety of social contexts, and also begin to make the transition back to home and school, where appropriate.

We have Ofsted-registered education facilities at all of our Priory child and adolescent inpatient units. For further details on how Priory can support with this service, please call 0800 090 1356. For professionals looking to make a referral, please click here.

Who do we support?

The young person may have reached a level of severity and physical risk that they can no longer be safely treated in a community setting. Young people requiring inpatient treatment for an eating disorder generally present with:

• Acute physical risk due to low weight and/or dangerous recent weight loss
• The inability to progress in community treatment
• Associated risks such as suicidality or self-harm
• A severe eating disorder which parents and carers do not feel equipped to support in a home setting

Referrals and admissions

The young person is usually referred to the inpatient service via the local CAMHS teams. The multidisciplinary team will then meet and review the referral. An assessment may then be arranged to inform the decision regarding suitability for admission.