00:00The Richardson Eating Disorder Service at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary
00:04serves Time, Weir, Northumberland and North Cumbria,
00:07providing inpatient care for adults with severe eating disorders.
00:11The Trust confirmed the ward's closure by the end of July
00:14to allow expansion of urgent and emergency care facilities.
00:18It plans to increase intensive day services from five to seven days a week
00:23and provide additional support through community treatment teams and day services.
00:28BMA mental health lead Dr John Moore noted patients may need to travel to Darlington for inpatient care.
00:34While day services help, more stressed inpatient treatment remains critical for severe cases.
00:41The Trust says long-term plans for adult eating disorder services will be subject to consultation.
00:46Tom Quinn of BEAT highlighted that patients treated outside their local area
00:51may face distress and challenges in recovery.
00:53Day service expansion may allow more patients to remain at home,
00:57but the future of inpatient care locally remains uncertain.
01:01Both the BMA and local advocates emphasise the importance of adequate resourcing across the care pathway.
01:07Local clinicians encourage early engagement with day and community services.
01:12Collaboration between mental health specialists and voluntary organisations is ongoing.
01:16The Trust is expected to provide further updates once consultation concludes.
01:21Patient advocacy groups remain active in highlighting potential care gaps.
01:25The situation is under careful review to ensure safe transitions.
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