Outpatient care, eating disorders inpatient handbook CHW

Plans for discharge and outpatient care will be discussed throughout the admission. This includes medical and psychological care.

Preparing for outpatient care

  • Outpatient care will generally be needed for a minimum of 12 months after admission. Initially you will have appointments weekly to support ongoing progress.
  • The outpatient medical appointments will generally occur on a Thursday. The team will discuss, and plan follow up with you including how your previous medical care (e.g. GP) will be integrated into the care plan.
  • You will be asked to make an initial follow up appointment at the time of discharge with the reception staff in the Department of Adolescent Medicine (opposite Wade Ward).  

Psychological therapy

  • Options for psychological therapy will also be discussed and planned to meet your child鈥檚 needs.
  • Referral will generally be to your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service or a private practice who specialise in eating disorders.
  • Psychological therapy follow up in the outpatient clinic is also an option at The Children鈥檚 Hospital however, places are limited. The team considers individual family needs to determine places in the clinic. 

Family based treatment

Family based treatment is currently the best evidence-based treatment approach. This treatment consists of helping a family encourage their child鈥檚 recovery in the home setting and recognises that the family is the best support resource. 

  • A family therapist provides intensive support to the parents to help them stop unhealthy behaviours and complete weight recovery at home.
  • The family therapist supports the young person to reengage back into their adolescent life once a safe weight is achieved.
  • Siblings also play an important role in providing support during this process.

The treatment has three phases over a one year period:

  1. The first phase has weekly appointments and helps parents get their child to gain appropriate weight and eat a full variety of food.
  2. The second phase has 2 weekly appointments and helps return some control back to the young person once they are less affected by an eating disorder.
  3. The third phase has monthly to six weekly appointments and aims to help parents and young people adjust back to family life without the effect of an eating disorder. 

More information can be found in 'Help Your Teenager Beat An Eating Disorder' by J. Lock and D. Le Grange. This book is written specifically for parents.