Eating disorders and mother and baby mental health services
August/September 2009. Consultation now closed.
The NHS in the East Midlands invited members of the public to get involved in helping shape the future of eating disorder services, and mother and baby mental health services in the area.
There are several different forms of eating disorders: anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS).
Although these are already treated in the East Midlands, there are wide variations in the support for patients, depending on where they live. Some counties have well-developed and comprehensive out-patient services, while others have relatively newly established services and are in the process of expanding.
With regard to mother and baby mental health services, having a baby can sometimes lead to an increased risk of mental illness for women. Two per thousand women who have a baby will suffer from a very serious mental illness. Women who have had a previous serious mental illness are at high risk of this recurring following childbirth.
In the East Midlands, we want to create an East Midlands-wide specialised mother and baby mental health service.
Find out more about plans for eating disorders or specialised mother and baby mental health services.