Step 1 – Contact the GP

Your GP is the place to start. The GP will screen you, assessing your clinical and medical needs. If the GP is not clinically concerned, they will offer reassurance and advice. If the GP is unsure as to whether you have an eating disorder (ED), they will consult with the local Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS) / Adult ED team and monitor things. They may examine you and take blood tests or an ECG. If the GP is clinically concerned, they will refer you to the local AMHS or Adult ED team, if established) for a further assessment. If they are worried about your physical health, they may refer you to a hospital for medical care.

Step 2 – A) Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS)* Assessment or B) Adult ED team Assessment**

Eating disorder assessment involves a multidisciplinary assessment at a clinic. This includes a clinical interview (where a clinician will talk with you to get an idea of what your day to day thoughts and feelings are, disordered eating behaviours, and will try to assess what and how severe the areas of concern are), physical examination, investigations and questionnaires. This assessment can take up to 2 hours. The aim is to make the correct diagnosis of your needs and to identify other conditions or complications that may be similar or related, such as depression or other medical conditions.  The doctors on the team will review your blood results and liaise with your GP about your physical health. Your weight and height will be measured.

A) If the AMHS / ED team assessment concludes that you do not have an eating disorder, the team may discharge you back into the care of your GP (If there is no other condition that needs treating in the clinic).

B) If you are diagnosed as having an eating disorder, the next referral step is dependent on the level of risk assessed by the team. A person diagnosed with a low / moderate risk will be treated within the outpatient service. (Note: If a person does not respond well to this treatment, they can then be referred for more specialist support). If a person responds well to this outpatient treatment plan, they will, when ready, be referred back into the care of their GP (step down), or if the person does not improve, they will be referred into the more intensive day programme (step up).

– A person diagnosed with higher risk may be referred specifically for a more specialised treatment or day/ inpatient care.

– If the Adult ED treatment team assessment diagnose an eating disorder, the person will be treated within the eating disorder outpatient team structure.

– The person moves up or down these steps depending on their clinical needs and how they are responding to treatment.