Launch of Pilot Eating Disorder Day and Virtual Service | News

A new NHS eating disorder intensive day and virtual service for teenagers has been launched in central Bedfordshire as part of a one-year regional pilot programme.

The Aspire service has gone live from Whichello’s Wharf in Leighton Buzzard as part of the new regional pilot pathway Children and Young People Eating Disorder Intensive Day and Virtual service launched by the NHS partnership East of England Provider Collaborative.

Aspire is supporting Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) communities. It joins  other regional services, The Beacon in Cambridge and The Lighthouse in Norwich, in the aim of helping young people aged 13-18 avoid inpatient admissions and supporting intensive treatment closer to home.

The Aspire service is provided by East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) with a specialist multidisciplinary team including consultant paediatrician, systemic family therapist, support worker, specialist lead nurse, dietitian, clinical psychologist, community nurse, team administrator and clinical team lead.

Aspire clinical team lead Eleanor Chesters said: "We hope to support these young people who are experiencing an eating disorder, by providing an intensive treatment offer, with minimal disruption closer to home - including liaising closely with their parent or carers, school or education provider, and community teams.”

The treatment pathway is tailored to each young person’s specific needs and social circumstances.  

They can be referred through the  Children and Young People Mental health Service Single Point of Access (East of England Provider Collaborative Patient Flow Hub) by their eating disorder  community provider. Upon acceptance the young person and family will be offered information and support to access to the provision geographically closest in order to facilitate ease of access.

Andy Graham, Managing Director of the East of England Provider Collaborative, said: “It is fantastic to be working with ELFT on this important initiative which transforms the way that care and treatment is offered to young people who have an eating disorder. This truly delivers our aim to provide better care, closer to home and outside of hospital where possible.”

Clinical lead for this regional service, Dr Simona Dumitriu, said: “We have been looking forward to Aspire service joining the pathway and offering another opportunity to young people and families residing in this part of the region to access intensive treatment, whilst remaining connected to their support networks. 

"The ELFT team brings valuable expertise, experience and enthusiasm in developing the model and has been a pleasure to join efforts in achieving the next step in the clinical intervention for young people."

Eleanor Chesters added that the hope is the one-year pilot will be successful in demonstrating the need for a local service and further funding will become available to continue longer term.

The Aspire service offers intensive support with a structured timetable that clients are expected to attend daily, either in person or virtually, depending on their individual needs. 

The person-centred approach includes a named key worker for each young person, physical health monitoring, meal support,  individual and group dietetic input, systemic and family interventions, individual and group psychology input, medical reviews, psychoeducation groups, close liaison with community teams and education.