Sussex Eating Disorder Service (SEDS)
Sussex Eating Disorder Service (SEDS) is a Sussex wide multi-disciplinary team which supports adults with an eating disorder.
SEDS offer support for adults over the age of 18 diagnosed with an eating disorder. We are able to offer advice and consultation to professionals about Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) but we do not currently assess or treat ARFID within SEDS.
The service operates 9am-5pm Mondays to Fridays except bank holidays.
Individuals cannot currently refer themselves to the service, but a referral can be made by any health professional. This includes GPs, hospital-based teams, adult mental health workers, assessment and treatment teams, crisis teams and all primary and secondary approved mental health professionals. If you are concerned about your own eating difficulties, or that of a friend or family member, please talk to one of these professionals about making a referral.
GPs should refer through their patient booking system as they would for any other mental health referral.
All other healthcare professionals should complete the following referral form and return it to spnt.seds@nhs.net.
Sussex Eating Disorder Service is a Sussex wide service.
Our main team base is East Brighton Community Mental Health Centre, but we also see our service users at a variety of outpatient clinics across Sussex and in their homes.
We also offer virtual appointments.
The SEDS multi-disciplinary team consists of:
- Nurses
- Healthcare Assistants
- Consultant Psychiatry
- Speciality Doctor
- Supporting GPs
- Admin
- Psychologists
- Assistant Psychologists
- Psychological Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Support Workers
- Dietician
- Social workers
Our team are all highly trained and specialise in Eating Disorders.
Assessment
Once referred, you will be invited to attend an initial assessment with an Eating Disorder Practitioner.
Your assessment with SEDS may take place either virtually or in person at one of our clinics across Sussex. We ask that you allow between 1.5 and 2 hours for your assessment. Your assessment may be conducted by 1 or 2 members of the SEDS teams.
In order to support the development to the future NHS workforce, we may have students from across the different disciplines sitting in on an assessment clinic. Please advise the team if you would prefer not to have a student present during your assessment.
The aim of your assessment appointment is to help us to understand the difficulties you are facing with your eating at present and enable us to consider a treatment plan to meet your needs.
During the assessment you will be asked a number of questions across a range of different areas including current and historical eating and drinking patterns, compensatory behaviours (such as restriction, exercise, and/or purging) and shape / weight concerns. We will also ask questions about your social situation and wider physical and mental health difficulties. We appreciate for some people this may be the first time you have spoken about these issues with anybody and understand this can be a difficult and emotional process. The information you share will help us to consider the most appropriate treatment pathway for you.
We may also need to carry out some physical monitoring during your assessment. This may include weight and height measurement, blood pressure and temperature check.
You are welcome to bring a support person along to your assessment.
Treatment
SEDS offer a wide variety of treatments (group and individual) in line with NICE recommended treatments for eating disorders. These include but are not limited to:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Maudsley Model of Anorexia Nervosa Treatment (MANTRA)
- Schema Therapy
- Cognitive Analytical Therapy (CAT)
- Specialist Supportive Clinical Management (SSCM)
Our other treatment pathways include:
- Severe and Enduring Eating Disorder Pathway
- GP Monitoring Pathway
- High BMI Pathway
- Virtual Group Treatment Program (DOVE)
- Occupational Therapy
- First Episode Rapid Early Intervention Eating Disorders (FREED)
FREED
At Sussex Eating Disorders Service we offer the 'FREED' pathway, this is a national approach to providing early intervention for eating disorders for young adults. It is a service for 18 to 25-year-olds who have had an eating disorder for three years or less. We know that getting support as early as possible has really big benefits, and even more so in this age group. So we aim to offer a rapid and tailored assessment and treatment approach to people that these criteria are applicable to. Access is in the same way as described above, through a referral by your GP on the same referral form. More information about FREED and some resources can be found on the FREED website lists in the resources section.
Family and friends may find the following book helpful: Skills Based Learning for Caring for a Loved One with an Eating Disorder by Janet Treasure, Grainne Smith, and Anna Crane. Published by Routledge 2007. ISBN: 9780415431583.
Advice for parents – Eating disorders - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
The New Maudsley Approach – A resource for professionals and carers of people with eating disorders
SEDS is not emergency service. If you suspect an immediate medical risk, please call 111 or 999 or go to A&E.
If you are concerned about your own mental health, or are looking after someone who you believe is in crisis and requires an urgent response out of hours, please call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.