North Metropolitan Eating Disorders Specialist Service

The North Metropolitan Eating Disorders Specialist Service (NMEDSS) is a community-based service that provides specialist treatment for eating disorders.

NMEDSS takes a person-centred and recovery-oriented approach to treatment with a multi-disciplinary team consisting of clinical nursing, dietetics, psychology, social work, psychiatry, physician, exercise physiology and peer support.

The service offers a 'step up' from outpatient settings such as clinical psychology, dietetic and general practitioner appointments, as well as a 'step-down' from inpatient settings including hospitals and residential treatment, as part of a continuum of care approach to treatment.

Referral pathways

NMEDSS is available to people aged 16 years and over with a diagnosed eating disorder, who are experiencing difficulties making progress in outpatient treatment, or who are being discharged from hospital-based treatment for their eating disorder.

People must be currently living in the North Metropolitan Health Service (NMHS) catchment area or in associated areas in regional Western Australia.

As part of a phased implementation, referrals are currently accepted from:

• Tertiary hospitals
• NMHS Community Mental Health Clinics
• Centre for Clinical Interventions
• NMHS Youth Mental Health Services

NMEDSS services will be expanding in the future.

Services offered

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

The IOP provides intensive, experiential treatment three days per week, including group therapy, individual counselling and clinician supported meals for a number of weeks.

The length of stay on the IOP is flexible and will be determined collaboratively between the client and multidisciplinary team.

Specialist Multidisciplinary Outpatient Clinics (SMOCs)

These clinics provide various components of multidisciplinary support to complement existing primary care treatment, including dietetic assessment and support, specialist medical or psychiatric intervention, motivational support and relapse prevention planning.

The frequency and number of appointments will be tailored to the individual's needs.

Referrals

NMEDSS welcomes calls from potential referrers to discuss eligibility criteria and whether the service would be beneficial for the individual. Please contact our team on 9227 4372 between 9am and 4pm weekdays or email us at Referrals.NMEDSS@health.wa.gov.au.