New hospital for young people with eating disorders
YOUNG people with eating disorders will be able to access a new state-ofthe-art hospital in Derbyshire by the end of this year.
Ellern Mede, an independent specialist eating disorders hospital group, is opening the centre, with 17 beds for people up to the age of 25, in Breaston. There will also be an on-site school.
The hospital will be available to young people living in the Midlands, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire and, when fully operational, it will also provide 100 jobs. Recruitment is under way.
Eating disorders have been rising significantly but even more so since the start of the pandemic and its impact on availability of medical services.
According to NHS data, by the end of June, 207 patients were waiting for urgent treatment – up from 56 at the same time last year. A further 1,832 were waiting for routine treatment, up from 441. And 852 patients received urgent treatment, compared with 328 in the first quarter of 2020-21.
The hospital will comprise two wards – one for those up to
18 and the other for 18- to 25-year-olds. It will be the fourth in the Ellern Mede group.
The refurbishment and building extension underway is on the site of what was formerly known as Middlestead House, which was an independent mental health care provider for people with learning disabilities.
All aspects of the existing building are being redesigned and refurbished, with significant additional new-build new structures and layouts.
Andy Ambler, mental health nurse and manager of the hospital, said: “There has never been a greater number of people with eating disorders needing inpatient and outpatient care than now.
“The UK’s public and private service providers all admit demand exceeds the supply, for beds, day patient services or community support.
“Ellern Mede specialises in inpatient treatment. Most patients who access our highly specialist and intensive service have to be funded by the NHS.
“This is because treatment programmes can be long, for example three to six months in hospital or longer. Length of stay is related to patients having complex symptoms which, with eating disorders, is often the case.
“Working for Ellern Mede is a wonderful opportunity for healthcare professionals who enjoy working with young people. The training and learning a healthcare assistant or nurse receives is significant and highly specialist.”
The range of new roles includes healthcare assistants, nurses (RMN, RNLD, RGN and paediatric), as well as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, family therapists, occupational Therapists, dietitians and activity co-ordinators.
Support staff include receptionists, administrators, housekeepers, catering staff and maintenance technicians.
The hospital is on schedule to open in November.
Mr Ambler added: “When the hospital is registered with the Care Quality Commission and is fully operational it will be a welcome service for NHS commissioners as it will improve availability of eating disorder beds for patients from the Midlands area.
“It is hoped many more patients will be able to access this specialist inpatient eating disorder treatment closer to their family and home address.
More information about the company, hospital and job vacancies can be found at group’s website – ellernmede.org
There has never been a greater number of people with eating disorders needing care than now Andy Ambler