NHS Borders Eating Disorder Service comprises of a Clinical Psycholgist and Dietitan who work alongside the Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs).
There are three Community Mental Health Teams in the Borders which provide a Borders-wide service. The teams are multi-disciplinary consisting of Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and trained Support Workers.
The Borders Eating Disorder Service is based in Melrose and provides a Borders-wide service for people aged 18 years and above. Younger patients would be seen by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) which can be found at the Andrew Lang Unit in Selkirk.
Outpatient Treatment
Assessment and treatment are offered on an outpatient basis. Treatment will be tailored to the needs of the individual and care is coordinated closely between the Borders Eating Disorders Service and colleagues in the CMHTs.
Inpatient Treatment
If a person is physically unwell or at risk they can be admitted to the Borders General Hospital in Melrose for medical stabilization and/or treatment. If the person with an Eating Disorder has a co-morbid mental health condition requiring treatment, beds may be available in Huntlyburn Ward, an acute general psychiatric inpatient facility, situated adjacent to the Borders General Hospital.
If inpatient treatment is required, the Borders Eating Disorder Service would work closely with inpatient medical staff to ensure continuity of care, particularly around diet and eating.
NHS Borders also has access to beds in the specialist Regional Eating Disorder Unit (REDU) at St John’s Hospital, Livingston. Admissions to the regional unit in Livingston will only be considered when a person with an Eating Disorder is physically well enough to travel to the unit and generally only for time-limited, specific pieces of work.
Who can refer to the service and what are the referral criteria?
The Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) routinely take referrals for people with Eating Disorders from General Practitioners (GPs), Social Work, and medical professionals at the Borders General Hospital. A person must be medically stable enough to be managed in the community to be referred to a Community Mental Health Team.
The Borders Eating Disorder service will only accept referrals from Community Mental Health Teams. A person may be referred if they have, or are suspected of having, Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa or an Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
The Borders Eating Disorder team can also provide consultation and advisory services to professionals working with, or concerned about, a person with an Eating Disorder, including GPs and school nurses or counsellors.
To contact the team, please address correspondence to:
Dr Rachel Megahy
Clinical Psychologist
Telephone 01896 827331
rachel.megahy@borders.scot.nhs.uk
Huntlyburn House
Melrose
TD6 9BS
