Last year we carried out a survey to ask our service users about their experience of using our services during the pandemic.

We know how difficult it has been for everyone during this period, especially if you're already receiving support. We wanted to know about what's gone well, what hasn't gone so well and what we can improve on.

All staff working in the service were also contacted to listen to their experiences of providing the service during this time had been.

We received 22 responses to the survey from people using our Eating Disorder Service, with lots of really helpful comments.

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has taken part. Your feedback is really important to us and we have been considering it carefully.

The findings have been shared with staff and we wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of the main themes that emerged and how we have responded.

Contact in the assessment stage

You said you received less contact during the assessment stage.

We are aiming to pilot a new triaging system where by those referred to the team and awaiting assessment will be offered phone contact with a clinician prior to their assessment appointment.

We recognise that this can be a daunting time and are keen to try and support you to engage in these first steps towards recovery.

Positive feedback

You said that the service was good. You felt listened to and supported and that is was a collaborative approach. You thought staff were very good, supportive, helpful and unjudgmental.

Thank you for your feedback, we are pleased that your experience reflected the service we aim to provide.

We have fed this back to all our staff and it has been a real boost in these challenging times.

Choice of type of appointment

You said that you hadn’t been offered the choice of phone or video consultations for your appointments. 

Clients are now routinely offered a choice between phone or Attend Anywhere (video) appointments.

Length of online appointments

You said that online sessions were much shorter and less collaborative. 

Clients are now routinely offered standard length sessions for all evidence based therapy sessions.

Maintenance support

You said you wanted more maintenance support to talk about coping strategies and help in staying well - but not a frequent meeting.

As part of our upcoming merger with South Yorkshire Eating Disorder Association (SYEDA) to form ASERT (All Age Sheffield Eating Disorders Recovery Team) a new through age eating disorder pathway, we are hoping for more seamless transitions following the end of active therapy.

We hope to develop more relapse prevention and wellbeing resources over the coming months.

How to find out more

If you would like to find out more information or to see the results in more detail please contact the Quality Improvement Team by emailing qiteam@shsc.nhs.uk or speak to a member of the Eating Disorder Service team.