The STEPs Eating Disorders Inpatient unit provides 24/7 inpatient care to adults with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and an eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). The service is part of the South West Provider Collaborative, delivering specialist services across the South West region.
Our 10-bed inpatient Acer Unit is available to:
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male and female adults from the age of 18 years and over. We are also able to support younger adults aged 17 and a half years.
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adults who are admitted on a voluntary basis or under the Mental Health Act (1983).
- If you, or the person you care for, are on the waiting list or scheduled to be admitted to the ward, a visit will be arranged for you by your care coordinator.
Every patient has their own bedroom with an en-suite bathroom. The unit features a garden, communal lounge, dining room, kitchen, and clinic. All medications, meals, snacks, and drinks are provided. Support is available at every snack and mealtime, and during the weekdays, a therapeutic group program is led by a multi-disciplinary team.
Self-Referrals
Please not we are unable to accept self-referrals.
Referral Process
To be referred to STEPs EDU, you’ll first need to be assessed by your local community eating disorders service. After this assessment, the team will determine whether an inpatient admission is necessary or if other forms of support might better suit your recovery journey. If you’re not currently under the care of a community eating disorders team, you can speak to your GP or another professional involved in your care, who can help refer you to the appropriate service.
If they believe that admission to a specialist Eating Disorders Unit (SEDU) is the most appropriate step, they’ll submit a referral through the single point of access patient flow system for review by the South West Provider Collaborative (SWPC) Clinical Audit Panel (CAP). Following this, you’ll be invited to an access assessment, where staff from the unit will explain what an admission entails, get to know you, assess whether inpatient treatment would be beneficial, and begin to explore your goals for admission.
STEPs Bristol is one of two preferred providers within the SWPC, commissioned by NHS England to offer specialist inpatient treatment for severe eating disorders, alongside the Haldon Unit in Exeter.
For many people with an eating disorder, treatment within the community provided by their local eating disorders team is often sufficient to begin making meaningful changes in their lives.
There are services you can access for immediate support and or support in while you are waiting to be admitted.
Need advice or someone to talk to
Beat
Beat offer support through telephone, email and webchats.
Details can be found on their website: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/. Or you can call them directly on 0808 801 0677 (England), 0808 801 0433 (Wales)
SWEDA
SWEDA offer support to those with eating disorders in the South and West of England. They offer a range of support from support calls, support groups and counselling.
Details can be found on their website: https://swedauk.org/. Or you can call them directly on: 0174 934 3344
Talk-ED
Talk ED are a charity run service offering a range of support from online workshops, befriending and nutritional coaches.
Details can be found on their website: https://www.talk-ed.org.uk/support-services/
Urgent help and support now
If you are experiencing something that makes you feel unsafe, distressed, or worried about your mental health urgent help is available here.