The Exeter, East and Mid Devon Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Paediatric Service have developed a joint pathway to deliver care to children with restrictive eating disorders since 2012. The pathway enables the majority of young people with restrictive eating disorders to be maintained in the community throughout their treatment. The need for tier 4 admissions has been substantially reduced.
Integrating medical care and access to paediatric beds with psychological interventions for eating disorders – joint working between CED services and paediatrics – Exeter, East and Mid Devon Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Paediatric Service
The Exeter, East and Mid Devon Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services and Paediatric Service have developed a joint pathway to deliver care to children with restrictive eating disorders since 2012. The pathway enables the majority of young people with restrictive eating disorders to be maintained in the community throughout their treatment. The need for tier 4 admissions has been substantially reduced.
In moderate or high-risk cases, inpatient admission to the general paediatric ward is used urgently or semi-electively, to stabilise physical risk and re-establish intake of sufficient calories to achieve weight gain. This consists of a standardised three week supported feeding admission during which the child or young person is cared for with a strict care plan and a dietitian prescribed meal plan, with monitoring for refeeding syndrome. Compliance rates are good and nasogastric tube use is minimal.
