New unit for patients with eating disorders

People suffering from anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders will get specialist treatment locally rather than having to travel hundreds of miles.

The facility, called Rharian Fields, and based at The Gardens, Diana Princess of Wales Hospital, offers four levels of treatment, including out-patient and day services as well as home care and in-patient stays.

Kevin Bond, chief executive of NAViGO health and social care community interest company which is running the service, will declare the unit open on Friday February 24, during eating disorder awareness week.

Consultant psychiatrist and master practitioner for eating disorders and obesity Dr Kate Kucharska-Pietura said: “Rharian Fields will offer a service that maximises service user engagement in their treatment, promoting choice when it comes to the options available to them.

“We want to improve the quality of life for those suffering from eating disorders, and we feel strongly that the client is an equal partner in the management of their eating disorder. We therefore aim to deliver a service that focuses on the individual, working with each individual to develop a bespoke treatment package to suit them and their stage of recovery.”

The centre aims to offer a highly personalised level of care with a high staff to client ratio.

Amanda Hind, eating disorders manager, said: “We are all very excited about the launch of the new dedicated unit. Sadly, eating disorders are becoming more and more common and as such we recognised that we needed to change and adapt our service to reflect this. Although NAViGO already provides an outpatient eating disorder service, the new Rharian Fields unit will allow for the specialist team to apply even more innovative practice and to keep at the forefront of national service.”