A new centre for young people with potentially life threatening eating disorders could be set up in the Epsom area.

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will shortly be extending its service for children and young people with eating disorders to the whole of Surrey.

It is a problem that is growing and affecting younger and younger children. It is estimated that 1.1m people in the UK suffer from eating disorders.

New staff, including a family therapist, an occupational therapist, a clinical psychologist, nurse and a service manager are currently being recruited and the aim is to have the team up and running by the end of June.

The trust is advertising for "flexible, enthusiastic and adaptable staff who need the skills and experience to work together with children, young people and their families within an intensive community programme".

According to the advert the service could eventually be based in the Epsom/Leatherhead area.

Surrey Borders has had a small service based at Frimley and operating in the West of Surrey for some years.

It was one of the earliest community specialist services and it is now being expanded to serve the whole of Surrey.

Dr Irene Yi, who currently heads the service, will be lead consultant.

The intention is to deliver as much care as possible close to the young people’s homes.

Dr Yi said: “The existing CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) services in Surrey helping young people with eating disorders have been exceptionally dedicated and passionate about these youngsters and their families trying to beat this very severe and potentially life threatening illness.

“The new team will aspire to provide a first class service which is responsive to the needs of our young people.”

Young people in the age group 14 to 25 years are most at risk of developing eating disorders and Mind, the mental health charity estimates that as many as one woman in 20 have eating habits which give cause for concern.

According to the Royal College of Psychiatrists girls and women are 10 times more likely than boys to suffer from anorexia or bulimia although in 2006 more than half the 58 children under the age of 10 treated in NHS hospitals were boys.

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