FOLLOWING lengthy discussions with local commissioners, Devon Partnership NHS Trust has finalised arrangements for a brand new community eating disorder service in Devon.

The service is expected to be operational from the beginning of 2019 and recruitment of the 14 full and part-time posts in the team has already started.

Clinical director for specialist services Dr Jo Bromley said: ‘We have known for many years that we need a dedicated community eating disorders service and it’s great news that we have now secured the funding from our local commissioners to launch one. The service will benefit from £536,000 in its first year, rising to £800,000 from year two onwards.

‘Our general community teams have always supported people with eating disorders as part of their caseloads and we obviously have The Haldon in Exeter to provide excellent inpatient support for people with the most serious needs.

‘The missing piece of the jigsaw has always been a dedicated community team and, from early next year, we will have that too. This will provide further specialist support to our community teams.

‘The mortality rate associated with eating disorders is the highest for any mental health condition.

‘Public health data tells us that, in our area, the prevalence of anorexia is about 10-30 people per 100,000 and, for bulimia, it is around 50-150 per 100,000.

‘This means that we should expect between 90-270 people to have anorexia and 445-1,335 to have bulimia.

‘When you see these figures, you realise what a hugely important addition the new service is, in terms of the support we can offer to local people.’

As well as a clinical team leader the new service will benefit from a consultant psychiatrist, specialist nurses, support workers, psychologist input, a dietician and a family therapist.

‘The new service will provide specialist assessment, treatment and, where appropriate, signposting to other services — including the depression and anxiety service (DAS) and services provided by other organisations. People with disordered eating or obesity will fall outside the remit of the service.

Simon Tapley, director of commissioning for the NHS clinical commissioning groups in Devon, said: ‘We welcome this very positive news from Devon Partnership NHS Trust and we are pleased to be able to fund what will be a really important service for local people.

‘Getting help early with an eating disorder is essential and this new team will bring invaluable specialist expertise to help people regain control of their lives and move towards recovery.’

The Devon Partnership NHS Trust has already conducted some work with service users and families to seek feedback from people with personal experience of an eating disorder, which will help shape the new service. It will be doing more of this before the service launches next year.

The trust is keen to hear from anyone who would like to help.