Eating disorders

Better remote care for people with eating disorders

Led by Dr Dawn Branley-Bell at Northumbria University

The risks of face-to-face contact during the recent COVID-19 pandemic saw a dramatic shift to remote healthcare services in the UK, including digital and online support, and has remained a key part of these services ever since. However, there is no national guidance on how to use it effectively to support and treat people living with eating disorders.

Led by Dr Dawn Branley-Bell, and funded by the Foundation, researchers within the Psychology and Communication Technology Lab at Northumbria University have shown that remote care can be safe and effective, particularly for those who are unable to travel, or live in remote areas. However, it also has significant limitations, for example for people without reliable internet, who are not confident with digital technology, or who do not have private spaces.

Now, Dawn and her team will launch their ‘Evidence into National Action for remote Care Transformation in Eating Disorders’ project, known as ENACT-ED. Over 17 months, they will work with people with lived experience, healthcare professionals, charities and policymakers to determine how best to embed remote care into a national strategy for eating disorder treatment.

They will conduct a range of policy meetings to develop practical recommendations for healthcare services, as well as boosting public awareness of their work with an engaging social media campaign.

ENACT-ED will promote a fairer delivery of remote eating disorder care, with the aim of helping people from all walks of life access support earlier and more consistently.