Patient Information Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders
Who we are
The Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders (YCED) began treating individuals with eating disorders in 1978; it was originally known as the Leeds Eating Disorders Team and was modernised in 2005 in line with the NICE guidelines. The service has rapidly developed into the largest northern 'eating disorder service', and is at the forefront of innovative research. We work in partnership with St George’s Eating Disorders Unit. The YCED is part of the Specialist Services Directorate of Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Our vision Our vision is wedded to recovery from eating disorders. We aim to assist those who use our services to return to a state of wellness and to achieve an acceptable quality of life. We recognise that this will be achieved through offering choice, working in a partnership of mutual respect and providing person-centred treatments.
Our values Our priority is the people who use our services. We aim to provide a comprehensive and flexible clinical service that will meet and treat the needs of individuals with eating disorders. We believe that quality of care is dependent on collective commitment and expertise of the Team, including service users and carers. We have a commitment to develop new treatment techniques and actively pursue research interests.
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What we offer Our treatment programmes are designed to focus on change in relation to an individual’s eating difficulty and also to address the underlying and maintaining factors. Our holistic approach promotes recovery and personal growth drawing on different therapeutic approaches. We offer inpatient, outpatient and day services.
Inpatient Our 19 bedded Residential Unit provides a specialist service delivered by an experienced multi-disciplinary team. The team includes Occupational Therapists, Dietitians, Clinical Psychologists, Health Support Workers, Specialist Nurses and Psychiatrists. All patients are offered individual one to one sessions with members of the multi-disciplinary team. Our residential Units (Ward 6) is on the top floor of the Newsam Centre, a purpose built mental health PFI facility. The Newsam Centre is 3-storey building in the grounds of Seacroft Hospital.
Outpatient Most of the individuals referred to YCED are treated on an outpatient basis. We offer evidence based interventions. Our outpatient service differ from most NHS services in offering treatment 7 days a week and outside of office hours.
Community The team provides specialist intensive community based service for adult with severe and enduring eating disorders registered with Leeds GPs. Our aim is to manage complex needs of people with severe and enduring eating disorders in the community as an alternative to being in hospital by offering an intensive home intervention programme. The team works alongside GPs, other primary care professionals, Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust, voluntary sector and social services.
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Recovery: Different forms of therapy If you have very severe physical symptoms, such as low weight or abnormal blood results due to vomiting, it may be necessary for you to receive medical treatment before therapy can commence. Ultimately however, you are likely to be offered some form of ‘talking therapy’. The various different types of talking therapy are described in the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines, and these can be accessed free via the NICE website. There are many different therapies for eating disorders, but the best of them combine a non-dogmatic approach with the requirement of addressing thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It is important that you understand the rationale for the type of therapy that you are offered, and you should feel free to discuss the approach suggested by health care professionals. Different versions include: • cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) • a variant form of CBT known as mindfulness CBT • cognitive analytic therapy • psychodynamic psychotherapy • group therapy • interpersonal therapy • motivation enhancement therapy • couple therapy For some people with eating disorders, creative therapy such as art therapy, music therapy and drama therapy can be very helpful, particularly when your immediate feelings are ‘beyond words’.
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Recovery: Qualities of a good therapist The best forms of therapy are challenging, and may indeed make you feel uncomfortable at times. That is why it is so important you find someone you trust. You need someone who will show you empathy and respect. Empathy is different to sympathy. Some good therapists can be quite challenging, and rightly so. Therapy is not about having a shoulder to cry on. It is about someone who can engender change. What all effective treatments of eating disorder have in common is a joint emphasis on thoughts and feelings behind the disorder, and the need to change behaviours. Therapy that simply addresses behaviours tends not to produce lasting change. Equally limited is therapy that does not require any change in behaviour.
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Support for carers The YCED Carers Support Group currently provides a monthly support group for carers. We meet on the first Wednesday of every month, 7pm – 8.30pm at the Newsam Centre. The aims of the Group are: • To offer carers of people suffering from anorexia and bulimia an accessible, approachable and sympathetic forum for help, support and information • Provide supportive discussion and sharing of experiences in a relaxed and friendly environment
Please call 0113 855 6400 for further information.
Further help It is a sad fact that accessing specialist services can be difficult for some people with eating disorders. In the UK, if you experience difficulties you can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (‘PALS’) in your area and they can act as your advocate, giving you assistance in resolving disputes with health care professionals.
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Useful resources 1. Bulimia Nervosa - A Guide to Recovery. P. Cooper. Robinson 1993 2. Getting Better Bit(E) by Bit(E). U Schmidt and J Treasure. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1993. 3. Overcoming Binge Eating. C Fairburn. The Guildford Press, 1995. 4. Overcoming Anorexia Nervosa, Christopher Freeman and Peter Cooper 2002. 5. The Anorexia workbook: How to Accept Yourself, Heal Your Suffering, and Reclaim Your Life (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) by Michelle Heffner & Georg Eifert, 2004. 6. Skilled-based Learning for Caring for a Loved One with an Eating Disorder: The new Maudsley Method by Janet Treasure, Grainne Smith and Anna Crane. Routledge 2007. 7. In the UK, the beat (formally known as the Eating Disorder Association) is the umbrella organisation for self-help groups, and their website https://www.b-eat.co.uk/ provides invaluable information.
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Contact Details Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders Ward 6 Newsam Centre Seacroft Hospital Leeds LS14 6WB Tel: 0113 855 6400 Fax: 0113 855 6401 Email: yced.lypft@nhs.net Updated June 2016.