Early intervention for eating disorders

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Summary of report content

Healthwatch Bucks wanted to get feedback from diverse groups of young people on an early intervention service for eating disorders. The service is called FREED - First Episode Rapid Early Intervention for Eating Disorders. It is a service for 16 to 25-year-olds who have had an eating disorder for three years or less. Young people getting help for their eating disorder through FREED are given rapid access to professional support. FREED is currently being rolled out in Buckinghamshire for 18 to 25- year-olds.

Healthwatch ran a series of five focus groups during December 2022 and January 2023. Thirty three young people in total took part in these sessions.

Overall young people would recommend the FREED service to others.  There was an overwhelming concern that FREED service delivery times were too long and that a triage approach could work better i.e., call within 48 hours and simultaneous assessment.

Young people were more likely to speak to a friend rather than go to a doctor if they thought that they had an eating disorder. A fear of being labelled would stop people from seeking professional help.

There was stigma around prescribed medication. Gender-neutral communication for promoting the FREED service was preferred.

The report contains six recommendations about referrals, promotion of the service and how the service should be delivered.

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General details

Local Healthwatch
Healthwatch Bucks
Publication date
Date evidence capture began
Date evidence capture finished
Key themes
Access to services
Consent, choice, user involvement and being listened to
Lifestyle and wellbeing; wider determinants of health
Medication, prescriptions and dispensing
Service organisation, delivery, change and closure
Waiting for appointments or treatment; waiting lists for treatment
Written information, guidance and publicity

Methodology and approach

Was the work undertaken in partnership with another organisation?
No
Primary research method used
Focus group
If an Enter and View methodology was applied, was the visit announced or unannounced?
N/A

Details of health and care services included in the report

Details of health and care services included in the report
Eating Disorder Clinics and Services

Details of people who shared their views

Number of people who shared their views
33
Age group
13 to 15 years
16 to 17 years
18 to 24 years
Gender
Women
Men
Non-binary people
Is the gender identity of people in the report the same as the sex they were assigned at birth?
Yes
No
Ethnicity
Asian / Asian British: Bangladeshi
Asian / Asian British: Chinese
Asian / Asian British: Indian
Asian / Asian British: Pakistani
Asian / Asian British: Any other Asian / Asian British background
Black / Black British: African
Black / Black British: Caribbean
Black / Black British: Any other Black / Black British background
White: British / English / Northern Irish / Scottish / Welsh
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