Steps to give more help for people with an eating disorder
MORE people with eating disorders can access specialist support after a dedicated unit was expanded.
The Steps unit on the Southmead Hospital site was set up in 1999 but in that time it has grown from four beds on a hospital ward to a separate unit with ten beds for inpatients and other services under the same roof.
With the expansion of the unit, run by Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership, there is now less need for people with eating disorders to require treatment on hospital wards.
It also means that people with anorexia or bulimia can visit just one unit for all their support, making them feel more comfortable about the prospect of staying as inpatients than before when the inpatient and outpatient services were based on opposite sides of the site.
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Angie Jakubowska, who leads the service and has worked there since its beginnings in 1999, said: "Patients can see the service from the beginning to the end.
"They only have to come to the same building and see the same staff.
"There are a lot of barriers to seeking help for eating disorders and a lot of fear around it. Any way we can make that less so, the better."
Ms Jakubowska said it would mean that the staff and facilities would be familiar for both patients and families.
She said: "It's a positive shift for us that with the extra beds. It means that less people need medical interventions.
"Medical interventions are an unpleasant experience for patients. And this means that we have got more freedom and are more able to admit people."
A service working with GP surgeries has also been launched, with members of the Steps team helping to work with people with eating disorders from the start.
Steps offers inpatient and outpatient groups to support people with eating disorders, including creative writing and arts and crafts, healthy exercise groups and talking groups. They also work with people who are not sure whether they are ready to make the necessary changes in their life to help them consider the way their eating disorder impacts on their life.
Sessions are also offered to parents and carers.
Alison Cox has been involved with the service since 2004, when her daughter was diagnosed with anorexia, and has since returned to talk to other parents and carers about her experiences. She was also at the centre for its open day yesterday.
"My daughter is now two years in recovery, having come out of the Steps eating disorders unit in 2011.
"My relationship with them has been fantastic. I used to have regular meetings with them and they were able to give me practical guidance.
"I feel proud of the fact they have asked me to come back and share my experiences. It is really positive for me to do."
Ms Jakubowska said: "I feel quite emotional. I have been here since day one, when I was on my own, and now looking around here, I just think it is fantastic."
3 Comments
by Sarah1Ling
Friday, March 08 2013, 8:51PM
“There is no doubt that steps have improved recently and that the extra beds are welcomed and great news, the staff are lovely, however, the picture that this article paints is quite rosy compared to reality. I have been in and out of this unit more times then im comfortable to admit to, i know all the staff very well and so feel bad saying anything negative, as the staff themselfs are genuinely on the whole excellent. There is just so much work still needed. The actual therapeutic program, although vastly improved still lacks greatly in depth, just skimming the surface of issues, despite being full on in quantity. The food is, well, i dont want to put future patients off, but, well, just think hospital food and you probably get the idea, as well as the fact there there is NO continuity in portion sizes, and the kitchen OFTEN makes mistakes. To be honest there are so, so many things, which need addressing. In other areas, which through fear of bad treatment i cant go into detail, often patients, ARE left in dangerous situations with no help coming via steps, until things become extreme, and now that the unit accepts sectioned patients (it never did), this is ether threatened, or used. I know TOO many people which are, at this very moment in seriously dangerous places, health wise, yet they continue to go about their eating disordered ways, despite being at bmis in the 11 range, without any real help from steps. In fact one girl, was told that quote "she should go back to her eating disorder until she reached the scare factor that will scare her into wanting to get better".
Enough negatives said, i just had to show a different side from a patient (myelf) who has been with the service for many years.
I do want to emphasise that the main staff, esp Adam, Alice, Katy, Tom, Karren (awesome), Mark (top guy!), Hugh (of course and Nadia are simply wonderful and cannot be faulted. If it was 100% down to them in the operation of the unit, i am sure it would be so much better.”
by whippetprince
Friday, March 08 2013, 4:40PM
“Good news.
I was saddened to hear of the death of the teenager recently from an eating disorder.
'Body Image' for young people (especially females) is a real issue these days and the right support and education can save lives.
Well done and keep up the good work.”
by Shas_J
Friday, March 08 2013, 10:20AM
“About time we started to see the return of specialist mental healthcare units like this. Looking forward to the next specialist centre being opened! Well done to all involved :)”