Early Intervention Eating Disorders
Run from 2021-2023, the programme aimed to support mental health teams across England to speed up diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders in young people.
Overview
Regional work to speed up diagnosis & treatment of eating disorders
Improving access and reducing waiting times enabling local services to treat early and avoid deterioration
Reducing costs to the NHS, and distress to patients and families
Detailed Programme Information
The Early Intervention in Eating Disorders National Programme closed in March 2023.
Health Innovation South West supported the spread of FREED (First episode Rapid Early intervention for Eating Disorders), an evidence-based, specialist care package for 16 to 25-year-olds with a first episode eating disorder, across Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
Eating disorders are serious mental health problems with high levels of mortality, with peak onset between 16 & 25 years of age.
Evidence shows treatment outcomes are best if the condition is identified and treated at the earliest opportunity, within the first three years of illness.
From 2021-2023 the Health Innovation Network facilitated the national rollout of FREED across England, building on a successful scheme shown to help 16-25 year olds in London, with one patient describing it as ‘the gold standard’ of care.
The Early Intervention in Eating Disorders programme is no longer part of our NHS England commission. For more information about its activities and achievements, please contact Victoria Salmon.