FAQs

A. No, it is not necessary to see a GP for a referral to access our services.

A. We do accept patients currently being treated by the NHS, however we would require a referral from the NHS trust commissioner.

A. Yes, we do accept private referrals.

A. Yes, we work with all major private medical insurers. However the extent of treatment coverage will depend on your provider/policy and we recommend discussing the referral process with your insurance provider directly.

A. Once you have contacted us we will contact you to answer any questions you may have and arrange the best time for you to come in for an assessment. With no waiting lists, you will have immediate access to our services.

A. We offer an initial assessment by our registered mental health nurse. The assessment will last approximately two hours. The assessment is an opportunity for an in depth discussion with the person and their parents/carers, covering the history of the eating disorder behaviour, physical health, family history and more. If our service is appropriate, we will likely arrange assessments with our dietitian and psychologist to create a bespoke package of intervention. Find out more about our assessment process.

A. During this assessment you will meet with our counselling psychologist. This is an opportunity for the person to discuss their history of the eating disorder and any other mental health problems. Our psychologist will work with you to create a therapy plan, and you will review this together weekly.

A. Following the assessment our team will develop a personalised recommended treatment plan according to the specific needs of the person. We will also provide you with a quotation for the recommended treatment package.

A. Yes. Following full assessment, our team is able to provide a diagnosis if required. This can be provided in written format on request.

A. Our treatment service is immediately accessible. Book an assessment with us today to discuss the right treatment plan for you.

A. We treat patients aged eleven and up.

A. Our registered mental health nurse is our care coordinator and will be responsible for overseeing progress throughout treatment. We also have a medic on hand who will oversee any medical issues when necessary.

A. Yes. You are involved in planning your treatment from the initial assessment, and your treatment goals will be reviewed on a weekly basis with the psychologist and mental health nurse, and on a fortnightly basis with the dietitian. Our team believe in a person-centred approach, working together to develop a treatment plan that you are happy with.

A. Feeling recovered from an eating disorder is different for everyone. NICE (a national provider of guidance and advice to healthcare services) recommends a twelve month programme. Our treatment package is for twelve months before discharge in accordance with NICE guidelines and best practice. The most treatment input however is in the first six months, and becomes less frequent in the final six months as recovery increases.

A. Progress and success is personal, and monitoring would vary on a case-by-case basis. The measures used are dependent on your goals with each clinician. For example, progress can be monitored by eating disorder examination questionnaires (EDEQs), weight charts, and in weekly mental health nurse meetings. Success can be monitored by monthly reports, compliance with meal plans, and weekly reviews with the psychologist and mental health nurse.

A. No. Our treatment is bespoke to the individual, and is decided with the patient following assessment and reviewed on a regular basis. We do structure our therapies based on NICE (a national provider of guidance and advice to healthcare services) guidelines for evidence-based approaches to treating eating disorders. Our therapies are highly flexible and tailored to the person’s individual needs.

A. At The Bridge we believe in a multidisciplinary, holistic approach. Multidisciplinary treatment means that all aspects of the patient’s needs are addressed. Treating an eating disorder requires targeting multiple areas in order for an individual to feel fully recovered.. We mainly address diet and feeding habits, mental health, thought processes, and medical concerns if necessary, in order to support the individual in the ways they require most.

A. As we are an outpatient service, we give our patients the freedom to make their own feeding choices based on their agreed goals with our dietitian. You will review yourself-recorded food diary with the dietitian every two weeks, and we will compare recorded food intake to your weight and recorded activity levels. We aim to help patients independently manage meals.

A. We work closely with family, carers and partners to educate them on meal management techniques, and how they can support you. We are also able to provide a personal assistant to work with you during meal times outside of the clinic, to aid your progress in becoming more independent.

A. We would never use force feeding. Our dietitian will work with you to establish food boundaries, and set you tasks to conquer feeding habits. Dietetic reviews will be made fortnightly to make sure that you are happy with your progress. This builds not only trust but a healthy relationship to food.

A. If you are unable to stick to your meal plan independently, we provide additional support from a personal assistant. If you find you are consistently unable to independently manage your meals, even with assistance, inpatient treatment may be considered.

A. Yes. We are able to accommodate a vegetarian dietary requirement into our meal plans. Your nutritional input will be discussed during the first assessment with our dietitian.

A. We do our best to accommodate all dietary requirements. A vegan diet naturally limits availability of alternative nutrients that would be available to you, as it eliminates multiple major food groups. Whether or not a vegan diet would work for you would be discussed with our dietitian in the assessment and treatment would be decided on a case-by-case basis.

A. Yes. We are able to accommodate religious dietary requirements into our meal plans. As we are an outpatient service, you are free to continue eating Kosher or Halal foods, and this will be discussed during the first assessment with our dietitian.

A. No, this is unlikely to be a problem. We do our best to accommodate all dietary requirements on a case-by-case basis.

A. Calorific input is dependent on the individual and this will be discussed with you at the assessment with our dietitian.

A. At The Bridge we work with you to create a diet plan that you are happy with. Your preferences will be discussed during the dietitian assessment. Foods that are allowed and not allowed will be discussed with you before the plan is made and you will review it every two weeks.

A. We do have supplement options available, particularly for those with dietary requirements. If you require your own supplements you are welcome to take your own - however this would only be in accordance with agreement from our dietitian. Supplements as part of a meal plan will be discussed at the initial assessment.

A. As we are an outpatient service, we give our patients the freedom to exercise based on their agreed limits with our dietitian. You will review yourself-recorded activity diary with the dietitian every two weeks, and we will compare recorded exercise levels to your weight and food intake. We aim to help patients independently manage their exercise levels to encourage physical and mental wellness.

A. One of your treatment goals may include modifying your exercise or activity levels. However we do not expect immediate change - our dietitian will discuss your exercise with you from the beginning to ensure that you are happy with your fitness progress.

A. Yes. Co-occurring mental health problems are very common in patients who have an eating disorder, and our team believes in providing a holistic approach that is bespoke to each individual and their mental health needs.

A. Yes. Our team provides a treatment plan that is tailored to the patient’s individual needs, which a lot of the time include tackling co-occurring mental health problems. Our specialist team is highly experienced in co-occurring mental health needs in children and adults, and works with the patient to achieve their individual goals. We believe in encouraging patients to develop mental wellbeing and a healthy relationship to their mind.

A. See what other mental health conditions could co-occur with eating disorders.

A. Self harm and suicidal impulses are not uncommon for people who have an eating disorder. We believe in immediate access to treatment for anyone regardless of their mental health problems. We believe that if risk of suicide is at a level that requires continuous monitoring, then residential, inpatient services would be more appropriate to ensure safeguarding.

A. Yes, we treat patients who are on medication. A medical history and medication list will be kept by the medic as a safeguarding measure. As we are an outpatient service we expect patients to be responsible for their own medication.

A. Our treatment service is completely consensual. All of our therapists work to the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) ethical guidelines; we always get informed consent to give treatment, and we will always act in the best interests of service users. We do strongly advise that you attend your treatment plan. Treatment for an eating disorder requires motivation and willingness to participate. Our team works with you to decide your goals and meet your individual needs.

A. One of your treatment goals may include restoring your weight to a safe, healthy level. However we do not expect this to happen immediately - our dietitian will discuss your goals with you from the beginning and aim to restore you to a healthy weight that you are happy with over a period of time.

A. Our service is wholly confidential. Any conversations, interactions, thoughts, feelings, or sensitive information is in complete confidence and would only be shared with your consent. Our therapists are dedicated to forming meaningful relationships with each individual, based on trust.

A. How often you come in depends on your agreed treatment package, but during the start of the programme, it would be expected that, you would attend at least once per week. We are open evening and weekends and will do our best to avoid you missing school.

A. Our service is highly effective because it works with the person in an outpatient setting. Our twelve month plan allows the person to develop a richer understanding of their eating behaviours and make stable progress. Our multidisciplinary, results-focused approach allows for weight adjustment, improved feeding behaviours, and minimises risk of relapse.

A. We request that parents/carers come to the initial assessment, as it allows us to discuss your experience of your loved one’s eating disorder with you. Although most treatment is with your child only, we do offer family therapy sessions and would encourage you to come along. In some cases it may be appropriate for you to attend some sessions with your child, and this will be discussed at assessment.

A. One of your loved one’s treatment goals may include restoring their weight to a safe and healthy level, ensuring their health is not in danger. However we do not expect this to happen immediately - we discuss goals with them from the beginning and review them over time so that they are happy with the rate of their progress, therefore minimising risk of relapse.

A. Our team are highly experienced in treating children and adults with eating disorders and are results-driven. Our team build up meaningful relationships with each individual and help them develop mental and physical wellbeing. Our service is unique in that it is multidisciplinary, personalised and flexible in an outpatient setting, and can provide your loved one with immediate access to treatment. We offer an alternative to inpatient care and, in many cases, this may be more appropriate to maximise recovery.

A. It is often difficult to know if your child has an eating disorder, because eating behaviours are often concealed or can look similar to dieting behaviour. If you think your child has an eating disorder, you can call us on 0161 820 8010 or fill in our short enquiry form to see how we can help you.

A. Following assessment we will send you a summary of the clinicians’ assessment report along with recommendations according to the specific needs of the person. We also provide reports upon request during treatment.

A. We charge £90 an hour, an assessment and report costs £180. For more information about what we charge, please visit our prices page.

A. We accept:

• Self payment via debit / credit card, cash, cheque, bank transfer.
• Partial/full payment with private medical insurance.

A. Yes, we work with all major private medical insurers. We accept both partial and full coverage from private insurance providers.

A. Our dietitian will consult with the child or adult for allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements at assessment. They will work with the person to create food plans and educate them on techniques to independently manage meals. They will be encouraged to adapt and progress their goals during fortnightly reviews. Essential to dietitian input in treating eating disorders is the nutritional information, education of food management skills, managing exercise and activity and encouraging flexibility of goals.

A. Whilst nutritionists generally advise on matters of health and nutrition, dietitians apply their knowledge in the science of nutrition to help individuals, predominantly those requiring care, make educated decisions about their food choices and lifestyle. Only those who are registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) are able to refer to themselves as a Dietitian. In order to be eligible for registration with the HCPC, individuals must have a minimum of a BSc Hons in Dietetics or a BSc Hons in a biological science of relevance along with a postgraduate diploma or degree.

A. Our counselling psychologist is there to help the person understand the nature of the eating disorder, query co-occurring mental health problems and help them to find new coping strategies to manage emotions. Our psychologist aims to work with the person to improve their relationship to food and themselves. Treating eating disorders is the building of self-acceptance, coping strategies, confidence and self-esteem.

A. Psychological therapists specialise in specific therapies and use psychological theory to guide their practice. Chartered Psychologists also do this, but have a Doctorate in Psychology and are registered with the British Psychological Society (BPS) and Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).

A. Yes. Anything you discuss with the psychologist will be confidential. All of our therapists work to the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) ethical guidelines; we respect the confidentiality of service users.

A. Our mental health nurse is responsible for overseeing each patient’s individual journey. From the initial assessment, they will meet with the child or adult weekly to discuss their progress. As well as being our care coordinator, our mental health nurse is highly experienced and specialised in safeguarding each person to ensure their mental health is improving during their treatment. Our mental health nurse builds a trusting and meaningful relationship with the person, and is motivated to empower them to develop positive behaviours..

A. Yes. Anything you discuss with the mental health nurse will be confidential. All of our nurses work to the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) Code and respect people’s right to privacy and confidentiality.

A. Yes. We are happy to see children and adults with and without a diagnosis. If required, we are able to provide a diagnosis following assessment.

A. We treat a large variety of eating disorders, even if the diagnosis is not certain or uncommon. Take a look at what we treat.

A. Children and adults are most likely to develop an eating disorder, with the majority of patients between the ages of 11-25. Of those affected, there are usually about ten girls for every one boy. However, eating disorders can develop at any age and with any gender.

A. Yes, eating disorders for boys and young men are increasingly more common. Our service is bespoke to the individual, regardless of gender. We understand that eating disorders can affect anyone.

A. We firmly believe that with multidisciplinary treatment and support, then a child or adult will be fully able to recover from an eating disorder. Recovery is gradual, and can sometimes involve a bumpy road to get there. Our team is dedicated to working with the person to maximise recovery and give them all the tools they need to function independently without an eating disorder.

A. We firmly believe that with multidisciplinary treatment and support, then a child or adult will be fully able to recover from an eating disorder. Recovery is gradual, and can sometimes involve a bumpy road to get there. Our team is dedicated to working with the person to maximise recovery and give them all the tools they need to function independently without an eating disorder.

A. Recovery is different for everyone, and there is no objective way to measure when someone who has an eating disorder has entered recovery. We firmly believe that recovery starts from the moment someone begins their treatment - and the sooner a person receives support, the better and quicker their recovery process is.

A. It is not unusual for an individual to relapse into a few disordered eating behaviours following the end of treatment. However, this does not mean they are no longer in recovery. Relapse is much more common following inpatient/residential care than outpatient care. This is because in inpatient care, children and adults are not taught to independently manage their meals or thoughts. Our outpatient service provides an excellent team to encourage independent eating behaviours which minimises chance of relapse. Relapses are also more likely the later treatment is delayed. We understand the importance of immediate access to treatment without waiting lists. Book an assessment or give us a call on 016 820 8010 to see how we can help you.

A. At The Bridge, we understand that relapse is a possibility following treatment. This is why we provide an alumni service so that children and adults can keep in touch with each other and our team, so that every person feels motivated and supported even after completing treatment. If you do relapse, we offer support if you feel you need to book an appointment with one of our team members to get your recovery back on track.

A. Yes. We treat children and adults at any stage of their recovery, whether it’s the first time they are being treated or not. We would require a history of treatment at the initial assessment so we have a better understanding of what does and doesn’t work for you, to create a bespoke treatment plan for your needs.

A. At The Bridge we understand that it is not just the child or adult affected who requires support. Have a look at who we work with.

A. We are always looking for enthusiastic, experienced and motivated people to join our team. Take a look at our careers page for more information.

A. We offer a flexible refund policy in case you are unable to carry on treatment.

A. We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. Our service is completely confidential in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) Code and the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC) ethical guidelines. We are registered with Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), therefore we are in accordance with their data protection policy. More information. We offer a flexible refund policy in case you are unable to carry on treatment.

A. It is usual practice for care providers to write to a patient’s GP informing them of treatment. We would do so with your consent.

A. We always like to hear feedback to see what we’re doing well and how we can continue to improve our service. You can leave feedback here, or get in touch on 0161 820 8010

A. Yes, we offer full support for family members. We not only offer family therapy, but we keep the family informed on techniques and skills to encourage the person during their recovery and aid progress.