SEDS is a specialist community team, that offers treatment, care and support service for people suffering from serious eating disorders
What are serious eating disorders?
• Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa are serious eating disorders.
• These are complex illnesses that can have a devastating effect on both physical and mental health.
• They can negatively impact on all aspects of a person's life, and on the lives of those around them.
• They can affect women and men.
• It is possible to recover from a serious eating disorder.
The SED Team
We work across Suffolk, the team includes.
• Team manager
• Specialist Nurse Practitioners
• Community Eating Disorder Practitioners
• Psychological therapies
• Solution focused psychotherapist
• Specialist Dietitian
• Consultant Psychiatrist
• Team secretary
• Physiotherapist
• Special Liaison with expert physicians
Role of the team
• The main focus of our service is directed at the treatment of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa.
• We also offer advice, support and supervision to professionals working with people whose illnesses are less severe but nevertheless highly distressing for the individuals experiencing them.
• Awareness training for all health related professionals.
• In 2004 the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) published guidelines for the treatment of eating disorders.
The treatment we offer and support is based as closely as possible on those guidelines.
How am I referred to the Team?
You have been referred to the Suffolk Eating Disorder Team because your G.P. or other health worker is concerned that you may have a serious eating disorder.
Your local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) will be asked to carry out a full assessment of your mental health needs to identify the severity of your eating disorder and any additional difficulties that you may need help with. A member of the CMHT will discuss the assessment with you and appropriate treatment options will be explained. The CMHT will refer you to the SED Team.
What will the assessment entail?
You will be offered a two-part assessment; each session is approximately one hour long. You will be asked about how the eating disorder developed and how it affects all aspects of your life, and the lives of those around you. You will also be asked about your hopes and goals of treatment should you decide to accept care.
Your height and weight will be checked, as well as other physical health checks. You will be asked to complete a number of specialist assessment forms.
All assessments are written up and shared with you and the other Team members. All the information gathered will help us to assess your condition and needs.
Offer of treatment
The SEDS Team offer a comprehensive treatment plan through the Care Programme Approach. We will work with you and your carers to promote recovery and to manage the risk to your physical and mental health.
You may need appointments with various team members and additional agencies or therapists. You’ll be allocated a care co-ordinator who will liaise with everyone involved and arrange for regular review of your treatment and care plan.
Confidentiality
The team must keep details of your care and treatment confidential. However, we also have a duty to share information with other health professionals involved in your care and treatment. We will not do this without talking to you first. All information will be shared on a need to know basis.
Will you involve my family or carer?
It can be helpful to involve your family or carer in your care and treatment. We will talk to you about how we involve them and share information with them. We work closely with Suffolk Family Carers.
Comments, suggestions and complaints
If you wish to complain please tell someone close to the cause of the problem or a senior member of staff and they will try to put it right. A complaint will not affect your care.
If you are unable to resolve complaints through discussion with local staff, then you can either talk to your doctor or advocate, please ask for the NHS Complaints leaflet or write to the address opposite.
You can also contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 58 5544 for help, information and advice.