Scotland's first anorexia unit opens

The Public Health Minister Shona Robison formally opened the first in-patient facility at North of Scotland Eden Unit at Royal Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, Robison said: "Eating disorders can be complex conditions, but people can and do recover.

"The Eden Unit - the first NHS facility of its kind in Scotland - will improve access to high-quality care for people living with an eating disorder in the north of Scotland.

"With individually tailored care by dedicated staff, in a safe and therapeutic environment, I have no doubt that it will make a real difference."

Services provided by the unit
Generally, patients with eating disorders are kept with patients suffering from mental illness. But Scotland’s first dedicated unit would make available a course of treatment radically different from that supplied in psychiatric units. Health specialists and psychologists will try to get to the root of the eating problems.

Previously, all serious cases of eating disorders were referred to private clinic such as Huntercombe Edinburgh Hospital in Uphall, West Lothian and the Priory in Glasgow. But now people from all over the country can avail the same amenities for the first time at an NHS unit.

The unit shall basically cater to the patients within the age group of 18 to 65 years, but in some rare instances under-18s will be considered for treatment.

The new facility shall have an efficient staff of 20 nurses available around the clock, besides a dietician, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and a psychotherapist.

Dr Harry Millar, the consultant psychiatrist in charge of the unit, said: "Treatment at the unit includes group treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy, body awareness, body image, self-esteem and nutritional education. We also provide art therapy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy."

Eating disorders on the rise
Contrary to the popular belief, eating disorders are not limited to teenage girls and young women only; it is quite prevalent in men and older women as well. Athletes also admit that the pressure to keep their weight down can result in bulimia.

Though only around 250 people a year are diagnosed with eating disorders in Scotland annually, it is believed that many cases go undetected.

According to official figures, the number of people diagnosed with anorexia has doubled over the last ten years. Last year, 164 patients were diagnosed with the ailment, as opposed to 89 in 1999.

It is estimated 83,000 Scots have some form of eating disorder. Some 82 patients with eating disorders were discharged from psychiatric hospitals last year. In 2006-07, a total of 1450 women and 200 men sought advice about an eating disorder.