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Eating Disorder Unit Set for Green Light Scotland's First Dedicated Ward Planned in Aberdeen

Posted on: Monday, 19 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Judith Duffy Health Correspondent

AFTER almost a year of consultation, plans are underway to set up the first dedicated NHS unit in Scotland for the treatment of adults with eating disorders.

There are currently no specialist NHS wards in hospitals north of the border to treat severe cases of conditions like anorexia and bulimia. Nearly pounds-4 million is spent by the health service every year sending patients to private clinics as far away as York.

Discussions are taking place with a view to setting up an in- patient unit in Aberdeen, which would allow patients in the north of Scotland to be admitted for specialist care. The plans are being drawn up by a network of health professionals in the area, which has been established to organise and improve services for the treatment of eating disorders.

Dr Harry Millar, the clinical leader and manager for the Grampian Managed Clinical Network for Eating Disorders, said it was anticipated the new unit would primarily treat people aged over 18. He told the Sunday Herald: "We have to look at it carefully, but I think there would be a lot of advantages for patients and their families if there was something locally. It would help continuity in care if it was all run in the same system in the NHS.

"There is a lot of support in principle, but it requires a lot of detailed discussion at different levels within the health service. It will be part of the network's task to move that discussion on as quickly as possible."

Millar, a consultant psychiatrist at the Grampian Eating Disorder Service, pointed out the unit would be able to utilise funding which is currently being spent on treatment in the private sector.

"There is a question of whether the money which is already being spent might be used for the better good of the patients if the NHS were running its own unit in Aberdeen, " he said.

In January the Scottish Executive pledged to review treatment services for sufferers of conditions like anorexia and bulimia following stinging criticism from doctors and campaigners. An investigation carried out subsequently by the Sunday Herald revealed around half of health boards didn't have specialist services and waiting lists in areas with dedicated teams could stretch for up to six months for "non-urgent" cases.

A spokesman for the Eating Disorders Association welcomed the plans for the in-patient unit, but warned more had to be done to ensure patients were diagnosed and treated at an early stage.

"It is really important to catch eating disorders early; early intervention is the best indicator of recovery, " he said. "People are almost set up to fail as they won't get help until they are ill enough."

Guidelines on the treatment of eating disorders in England and Wales, published two years ago, are currently being reviewed by health watchdog NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. It is expected health boards north of the Border will be issued with advice after the review's completion by the end of this year.

Campaigners have welcomed the moves to improve services in Scotland, but are concerned progress is too slow. Grainne Smith, of the North East Eating Disorders Support Group, said: "They are right to examine the situation instead of rushing in and maybe getting things wrong. But at the same time there are people whose lives are being affected, there are people in a lifethreatening conditions and families affected across Scotland."

Conservative MSP David Davidson, whose daughter suffered from anorexia, said that any moves to improve services would also have to be backed by sufficient funding. "If you are going to come out with real guidelines that mean something you have to put in money with them specifically for that purpose, " he said. "Not just say here is an extra job for the health board to do, but no money is going into it. There is no point in ministers making airy-fairy promises if they don't actually start to deliver something on the ground."

Deputy health minister Lewis Macdonald stated a number of initiatives were being taken forward and said: "We will continue to work to build on the good work being done across Scotland and to provide the best care we can for patients and families affected by eating disorders."

NEED TO KNOW

THE FACTS Plans are being drawn up to set up an NHS in-patient unit for adults with eating disorders in Aberdeen, which would be the first of its kind in Scotland.

NEED TO KNOW The number diagnosed with eating disorders in Scotland increased by 15-per cent between 1999 and 2002, with around 1900 cases seen by GPs every year. The Scottish Parliament's Health Committee's enquiry this year concluded sufferers were being failed by the NHS.

NEED TO KNOW MORE?

www. edauk. com

Source: Sunday Herald

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