Adult Eating Disorders Service CONNECT Introduces Groundbreaking Referral Criteria Adjustment
The CONNECT service, a specialised eating disorders service, has launched a pilot programme to update its referral criteria, ensuring greater access to care for individuals in need. This significant adjustment, in line with the World Health Organisation’s forthcoming ICD-11 standards, reflects a shift in diagnostic practices and demonstrates CONNECT’s commitment to prioritising patient wellbeing.
What’s changing?
Traditionally, the CONNECT service has based its community referrals on a combination of core eating disorder behaviours, such as daily bingeing and purging, and body mass index (BMI) thresholds. BMI is a measurement of someone’s weight in relation to their height. However, many individuals experiencing anorexia with significant weight loss were excluded because their BMI remained within a ‘healthy’ range. Therefore, they weren’t able to receive the care they needed.
Under the new pilot, which runs until June 2025, CONNECT will consider a 20% weight loss over the past six months, regardless of BMI, in addition to the existing criteria.
This change is a more nuanced approach that aligns our service with the expected standards from the World Health Organisation and allows us to provide treatment to individuals who previously would have been excluded because of strict BMI thresholds.
Why are these changes important?
The current system often leaves individuals in distress without access to critical care. Many patients present with clear symptoms of eating disorders, including restrictive eating and obsessive behaviours, but do not meet BMI criteria due to their weight history. This has led to heartbreaking situations where people feel compelled to lose more weight to qualify for treatment — an outcome that runs counter to the goals of eating disorder recovery.
By introducing this adjustment, CONNECT is addressing the mismatch between clinical presentations and eligibility criteria. This proactive step ensures that individuals at substantial risk of medical and psychological harm are not turned away simply because they don’t fit outdated diagnostic models.
Benefits for service users
The revised criteria will bring significant benefits for service users:
- Earlier intervention: By recognising significant weight loss as a criterion, CONNECT can reach individuals before their health deteriorates further, improving recovery outcomes.
- Reduced stigma: Removing the emphasis on BMI encourages a more comprehensive understanding of eating disorders, reducing the stigma around seeking help.
- Preventing harm: This change cuts the inadvertent incentive for individuals to lose more weight to qualify for treatment, promoting healthier pathways to recovery.
- Alignment with best practices: By aligning with ICD-11 standards, CONNECT is staying at the forefront of evidence-based care, setting an example for other services.
Next steps
The pilot will run until June 2025, after which a thorough review and evaluation will decide its impact and feasibility for permanent implementation. This process will include feedback from service users, healthcare professionals, and data analysis to measure outcomes.
A message of hope
The CONNECT service is committed to ensuring that no one facing an eating disorder is left without access to the care they deserve. This initiative underscores the NHS’s dedication to evolving its practices to meet the needs of all patients, embracing a compassionate and evidence-driven approach to care.
Watch the video below to learn more about the amazing work CONNECT does for people like Jake.
Page last updated: 10th Dec 2024 11:37am