Intensive day programme treatment for severe anorexia nervosa – the Leicester experience

Abstract

Aims and MethodTo look at whether the opening of a day programme for the intensive care of people with severe anorexia nervosa in Leicester had the expected impact on admission rates, length of stay, cost of treatment and also simple measures of whether patients got better. Is this day programme an effective resource?ResultsSince the opening of the day programme, in-patient bed days and overall costs of treatment for local patients have been reduced, and the early results in terms of weight gain and readmission rates are promising.Clinical ImplicationsWith many areas planning to set up eating disorder services for local patients, it is important to consider which are the best resources to invest in. The experience of a well-established specialist service in Leicester has shown that a day programme can be an enriching and cost-effective way to treat patients with anorexia nervosa, but that it does not replace the need for the availability of in-patient beds.