Asking for help from our service is known as making a referral. A referral can be made by a young person, a parent/carer, a GP, schools, paediatricians and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Whilst we are happy to accept referrals from all of the above we recommend that the young person sees their GP first as they can help in making the decision about whether he/she meets our criteria for treatment. The GP can also advise on an alternative diagnosis or explanation for the child/young person's eating issues, and can assess and give advice on any physical risks or health problems. The GP should then make the referral and the additional information they provide will enable us to make a more accurate decision and avoid unnecessary delays.
For advice on whether a child or young person meets our criteria please call 01444 472670, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm. Alternatively, please complete our referral form and either fax it to 0300 304 4824 or email to FEDS@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk or spnt.feds@nhs.net.
Please be aware that emailing from iCloud, Gmail, Hotmail, Live, Yahoo or other private email accounts to NHS.net is not secure. If you would prefer to send the referral form via post please sent it to us at the address listed under 'where can you find us?'.
Our team will contact the main carer by telephone unless the young person has self-referred and explicitly requested otherwise. We aim to be in contact within 24 hours of the referral being received. If we receive the referral outside of normal working hours we will be in contact on the next working day.
If a child/young person becomes physically unwell whilst waiting for a referral please either contact their GP, call the NHS non-emergency helpline 111 or attend A&E.
The child/young person may be asked to attend a physical health check before we carry out a full assessment so we can ensure their safety and offer advice. This will include an ECG (to check their heart), blood tests, blood pressure check and height and weight measurements.
Referral guidance for GPs
Our service is commissioned to provide a NICE concordant eating disorder service. As a specialist mental health service, CYP-FEDS is not a diagnostic service and so children must be screened for all other possible reasons for low weight prior to referral. In order to ensure that this is delivered, in conjunction with commissioners, we have developed a referral form that must be completed and sent with the referral. Unless this information is completed, we are unable to accept the referral.
Download referral form.
Send completed form by fax to 0300 304 4824 or email to FEDS@sussexpartnership.nhs.uk or spnt.feds@nhs.net.
We've partnered with beat, the UK's eating disorder charity, to make sure that young people and their families have the information and support they need to help them throughout their recovery.