Eating Disorders Programme

If you have questions about our services or mental ehalth supports, please go to our Frequently Asked Questions.

• Mission and goals

  Our Eating Disorders Service at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, provides specialist care for adults (18 years and above) with a range of eating problems.

  The Eating Disorders Service provides care in an outpatient, day-patient or inpatient setting, according to the needs of the individual.

  The outpatient service is based at the Sandyford Dean Clinic and the inpatient and day service is located within St Patrick’s University Hospital, Dublin 8.

  The programme consists of a team of experienced and qualified professionals who are dedicated in working together to treat and support individuals and carers towards recovery from an eating disorder.

  We provide a comprehensive assessment and tailored treatment according to the needs of the individual. Assessment and delivery of treatment is led by a consultant. The services are seamless and service users can step-up or step-down from one aspect of the programme to another depending on their needs and stage of recovery. Treatment is delivered by an innovative multidisciplinary team.

  The mission of the programme is to provide high quality, comprehensive and evidence based treatments and services to individuals suffering from eating disorders. We aim to work together with our service users to enhance physical and emotional well-being along their path of recovery.  

• Inpatient service

  The inpatient eating disorders service provides a specialist and comprehensive assessment and treatment by a specialist team based on your level of needs, for those over the age of 18 with:

  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Bulimia nervosa
  • Other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED)
  • Binge eating disorders

  Medical, psychological and nutritional needs are assessed and an individual care plan is created and collaborated with service users and if appropriate with their families.  The initial care plan includes monitoring of physical health, meal plan review, review by consultant and dietitian.

  Indication for inpatient admission

  Inpatient treatment is indicated for service users with Anorexia Nervosa who are extremely underweight and have associated medical complications, require monitoring and support during the early phase of weight restoration or require a more supportive environment to help manage eating disorder behaviours. 

  The inpatient service is also suitable for those individuals with bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorders who require a more supportive environment to help manage their eating disorder behaviour. The inpatient service provides a short and focused admission for individuals with complicated behaviours secondary to bulimia nervosa or binge eating disorders.

  Aims of the inpatient service

  The aims of the inpatient programme are to medically stabilise service users, monitor for risk of medical complications, provide a supportive environment during the initial phase of weight restoration and provide a supportive environment to reduce eating disorder behaviours. 

  The team aim to increase motivation and willingness to change and help cope with the demands of recovery. The programme is delivered through low intensity group work, individual support and education and individual psychological treatments if required.

  Eating disorders treatment and services available

  • Consultant-led diagnostic evaluation
  • Dietetic assessment and management
  • Medical monitoring of physical and laboratory status
  • Meal support therapy
  • Family support and education 
  • Group work is provided on an individual needs bases and includes body image work, mindfulness-based stress reduction, self-esteem work and personal development, wellness and recovery and goal groups, compassion-focused therapy
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-E)
  • Recreational programme
  • Occupational therapy
  • Psychological assessment and intervention.

  Patients may also avail of other programmes which are offered within the hospital, including:

  • Anxiety Programme
  • Depression Programme
  • Living Through Distress Programme - A skills-based group for people who engage in self-harm or other self-destructive behaviours and who want to learn alternative ways of managing their emotional distress
  • Radical Openness - A skills-based group for people who are experiencing difficulties due to a learnt style of over-controlling their emotions. The goal of this programme is to help individuals to develop more flexibility in life and relationships leading to a fuller engagement with life
  • Addictions and dual diagnosis programme
  • Pottery skills and general hospital activities.

   

  Referrals to the Inpatient Eating Disorders Service

  Referrals to the service are made by general practitioners and service users are assessed prior to admission at the outpatient service which is located at the Dean clinic in Sandyford.

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• Outpatient service

  The Outpatient Eating Disorders Service provides a specialist and comprehensive assessment, treatment and follow-up by a team of experienced and dedicated staff.

  The outpatient eating disorders service provides diagnostic evaluation and care for those over the age of 18 with:

  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Bulimia nervosa
  • Other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED)
  • Binge eating disorders.

  The initial assessment and diagnostic evaluation takes place at the outpatient programme. Following this assessment an individual care plan is developed based on needs of the service user and it is discussed and planned with the service user and their carers if appropriate. 

  Eating disorders treatment and services available

  • Consultant-led diagnostic evaluation
  • Dietetic assessment and management
  • Medical monitoring of physical and laboratory status
  • Cognitive behavioural therapy for eating disorders (CBT-E)
  • Psychological assessment and intervention
  • Specialist supportive clinical management therapy.

   Referrals to the service are made by general practitioners. 

• Day programme

  The St Patrick’s Day Care Eating Disorders Service provides care for those over the age of 18 with:

  • Anorexia nervosa
  • Bulimia nervosa
  • Other specified feeding and eating disorder (OSFED)
  • Binge eating disorders.

  Admission to the day care service is either directly as a step-down from inpatient care or step-up from outpatient care. The day service is an alternative to hospitalisation for those who need extra support but can manage with a less intensive treatment. 

  The medical, psychological and nutritional needs of the service user are assessed and an individual care plan is developed with the service user and if appropriate their families. 

  The initial care plan includes an assessment/monitoring of physical health, meal plan review, and a review by consultant and dietician.

  The day care service runs from Monday to Thursday 9.30am-4.30pm and usually lasts around eight weeks depending on your individual needs and progress. Initially, it is recommended to attend for four days per week and this is reduced over the course of the eight weeks. The majority of treatment provided is in group format but individual therapy is also available.   

  Eating disorders treatment and services

  Advanced nurse practitioner-led diagnostic evaluation

  • Medical monitoring of physical and laboratory status
  • Meal support therapy
  • Family support and education group work including body image work, mindfulness-based stress reduction, self-esteem work and compassion-focused therapy, recovery
  • Recreational programme
  • Dietetic support and education.

  Patients may also avail of other programmes which are offered within the Hospital, including:

  • Anxiety Programme
  • Depression Programme
  • Living Through Distress Programme - A skills-based group for people who engage in self-harm or other self-destructive behaviours and who want to learn alternative ways of managing their emotional distress
  • Radical Openness - A skills-based group for people who are experiencing difficulties due to a learnt style of over-controlling their emotions. The goal of this programme is to help individuals to develop more flexibility in life and relationships leading to a fuller engagement with life
  • Addictions and Dual Diagnosis Programme.

  Referrals to the Eating Disorders Day Service

  Referrals to this service are made by GPs, and service users are assessed at the outpatient client located in the Dean Clinic St Patrick’s.

  GPs can complete a Dean Clinic referral form and return it via post to Referral and Assessment Team, St Patrick’s University Hospital, James’ Street, Dublin 8 or by fax to 01 249 3609.

  When the Dean Clinic team receives this referral form, the GP and the service user will receive confirmation of an appointment.

  For further information or queries, please contact the Referral and Assessment Team on 01 249 3635 or the Dean Clinic St Patrick’s on 01 249 3590