Specialist eating disorder support expands into North Lincolnshire

People in North Lincolnshire can now access dedicated NHS support for eating disorders for the very first time.

After 15 years of running its Rharian Fields hub in Grimsby, Navigo has expanded services into the area - offering therapies and health monitoring for conditions such as anorexia, bulimia and binge eating.

Mandy Barker, Clinical Lead for Community Eating Disorder Services at Navigo, said the expansion follows years of success in North East Lincolnshire.

"The service is run from our base at Rharian Fields in Grimsby. That’s so we’re able to maximise the amount of people that we see.

"It is a space where we have the therapy rooms and the clinic room together - so all peoples needs are met within one area.”

Demand has been increasing year on year - with a sharp jump since the pandemic.

“Since COVID, there’s been a huge increase in referrals. People’s routines were disrupted, they were at home around food a lot more, and shape and weight became quite a focus,” said Mandy.

The expansion also brings North Lincolnshire into the FREED programme (First Episode Rapid Intervention for Eating Disorders), designed for 16–25 year olds who have had an eating disorder for less than three years. Young people can self-refer directly via the Navigo website.

Despite the challenges, Barker said recovery stories are a powerful reminder of why the service matters.

“People do get well. I know there’s this stigma that people don’t recover from eating disorders. People do, and we see that every single day. It’s such an amazing story when you see the difference.”

How to access support

Anyone concerned about themselves or a family member can:

Speak to a GP or any healthcare professional for a referral

Visit the Navigo website for information and self-referral options

For crisis mental health support in North Lincolnshire, call 0800 804 8999 to speak to the RDaSH crisis team, or dial NHS 111 and select the mental health option.