Clinical Nutrition: Eating Disorder Services in Slough and Berkshire

This article discusses the prevalence of eating disorders in London, UK and the available eating disorder services in Slough and Berkshire. It also highlights the ongoing project of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s SHaRON service.

Running head: CLINICAL NUTRITION
Clinical nutrition
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1CLINICAL NUTRITION
A new study conducted by mental health professionals worldwide has recently placed
eating disorders under fifth and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) in standard
classification of mental disorders (Attia et al. 2013). Eating disorders are highly prevalent among
the general population in London, UK and Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology is the
first one to use this criteria. According to National Health Service (NHS), eating disorders have
reached an alarming stage where the number of hospital admissions increased from 7260 to
13885 in the years 2010-11 and 2016-17 respectively (Brownell and Walsh 2017). Eating
disorder also known as binge eating is characterized by frequent episodes of large amounts of
food eating in short span of time. There is lack of control or sense of shame or guilt with
inappropriate and recurrent compensatory behaviour. This represents a significant public health
issue that are due to severe emotional and physical consequences with high recurrence rates.
Eating disorders are also prevalent in Slough, Berkshire, and London where various
services are available for providing comprehensive care for people suffering from this disorder.
Berkshire Eating Disorders Service, (BEDS) NHS Foundation Trust is aimed at providing
services across all levels of mental health care that is informed by clinical governance and
current research taking into account the perceptions and experiences of people struggling with
eating disorders. They also provide online services where increased level of support is provided
through internet covering the population suffering from eating disorder in Berkshire
(Berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk 2018).
Slough Borough Council also provide eating disorder service having a multi-disciplinary
team comprising of dieticians, psychiatrists, nurse, psychotherapists and psychologists working
closely with young people in developing care tailored for individual needs. Another special
service, Specialist CAMHS Eating Disorder Service is also provided for making eating disorder

2CLINICAL NUTRITION
referrals through telephone or outpatient treatment clinics where specialized care and treatment is
given to eating disorder patients encompassing both medical and psychiatrist treatment
(Servicesguide.slough.gov.uk 2018).
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s SHaRON service is a project that is
ongoing in Slough; Berkshire aimed at setting up a program for fulfilling patients’ care needs
through designing and testing of best practices to care. They have an existing model of care,
“peer to peer mental health 24*7 support” an online service that is continuing since 2011 offered
to patients of the age 18 and above. They are also offering face-to-face appointments shifting
care to telemedicine settings that are beneficial for lowering the rates of inpatient admissions
(Berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk 2018).
Talking therapies are also available in Berkshire appropriate for initial referrals for
patients who suffer from primary problems or symptoms of eating disorders. Eating Disorders
Counselling services are also available for individuals with eating disorder in Slough, Berkshire
where the counsellors talk to them, understands their condition without judging and seeing things
in different light so that their eating disorder condition can be treated and managed
(Talkingtherapies.berkshire.nhs.uk 2018). The counselling sessions are performed in a nurturing
environment, valuing therapeutic relationship where the clients feel listened, acknowledged and
supported in order to their individual needs. The counsellors thrive to deepen their understanding
and knowledge with use of current techniques and best therapy to the clients in treating eating
disorders.

3CLINICAL NUTRITION
References
Attia, E., Becker, A.E., Bryant-Waugh, R., Hoek, H.W., Kreipe, R.E., Marcus, M.D., Mitchell,
J.E., Striegel, R.H., Walsh, B.T., Wilson, G.T. and Wolfe, B.E., 2013. Feeding and eating
disorders in DSM-5. American Journal of Psychiatry, 170(11), pp.1237-1239.
Berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk 2018. Berkshire Eating Disorders Service. [online]
Berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk. Available at:
https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/beds/default.asp [Accessed 19 Jul. 2018].
Brownell, K.D. and Walsh, B.T. eds., 2017. Eating disorders and obesity: A comprehensive
handbook. Guilford Publications.
Servicesguide.slough.gov.uk 2018. Slough Services Guide | Berkshire Eating Disorders Service
(BEDS). [online] Servicesguide.slough.gov.uk. Available at:
http://servicesguide.slough.gov.uk/kb5/slough/services/service.page?id=nhFrXhCVkYQ
[Accessed 19 Jul. 2018].
talkingtherapies.berkshire.nhs.uk 2018. Other Services | Talking Therapies. [online]
Talkingtherapies.berkshire.nhs.uk. Available at:
https://www.talkingtherapies.berkshire.nhs.uk/page_sa.asp?fldKey=222 [Accessed 19 Jul. 2018].