A new specialist service has been launched across Metro South Health providing enhanced care to people experiencing eating disorders.
Team Leader and clinical psychologist Katrina Wescombe said the newly funded service was part of the Better Care Together initiative and would complement existing services.
“The Metro South Eating Disorder Specialist Service (MSEDSS) will work alongside existing mental health services to treat conditions like Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa,” Katrina said.
“Clinical services include case consultation, specialist assessment and collaborative therapeutic interventions for consumers of community mental health teams, supporting the transition of young people through child and youth and adult services.”
Katrina said the new service would also help to build capacity of the mental health workforce in this field, with a planned total of 10 dedicated multidisciplinary staff once operational.
“Once fully staffed, we will commence collaborative treatment with evidence-based interventions for eating disorders.”
The MSEDSS forms part of a statewide expansion of eating disorder services, joining similar services across Queensland.
Katrina said as the service grew there would be opportunity to expand its scope and offer interventions to a broader range of people experiencing eating disorders.
In the meantime, she said the MSEDSS had initiated specialist multidisciplinary assessments to clarify diagnoses and provide treatment recommendations to community case managers.
“While we are based in Logan Central, we are mobile and deliver services across MSH community Mental Health Facilities. Referrals are accepted from Queensland Health community case managers for consumers aged 13 to 25 years, who have a primary presenting concern of an eating disorder."