By Stefan Morkis

NHS TAYSIDE last night denied claims that it does not provide enough support for patients suffering from eating disorders.

The health board was criticised by the family of a 19-year-old girl who has spent the last eight months as a patient at the Huntercombe Clinic in Edinburgh, which specialises in treating people with eating disorders.

The teenager, who asked not to be identified and suffers from what doctors describe as an atypical eating disorder, returned to her Dundee home yesterday after being discharged from the clinic, but her family say there is little or no support for her in her home city.

She was originally admitted to Ninewells Hospital after her weight plummeted to just four stone and 10 pounds because she was unable to eat.

Eventually, she was transferred to the private clinic in Edinburgh, with NHS Tayside paying hundreds of pounds a day for her stay there.

“There was supposed to be a meeting before she was discharged but nobody from NHS Tayside was there,” said the girl’s mother yesterday.

“She was discharged today but the date has been set for weeks.

“When she first went into hospital she weighed just four stone 10. Doctors said it would be lucky if she lasted the week.

“At Huntercombe they said she would work with a community mental health team, but I’ve not heard anything from NHS Tayside.”

However, Shona Singers, head of communications with NHS Tayside, said there is a framework in place to help people with eating disorders who need psychiatric help.

“We are aware that this patient has been discharged from Huntercombe and arrangements for her continued support are in place,” she said.

“She has been referred to a clinical psychologist here in Tayside and we will get in touch with her early next week to discuss her further care now that she has returned home.”

Earlier this week, NHS Tayside announced it was setting up a special team of professionals to help people with eating disorders.

Despite this, seriously ill sufferers who require in-patient care are still likely to be sent outwith Tayside.

Although they are currently sent to clinics like Huntercombe, health boards across Scotland are considering working together to create an NHS unit for patients with eating disorders.