New unit for eating woes at half-price
The facility, which will be created at St John's Hospital by December, will cater for patients with conditions such as anorexia and bulimia.
In a boost to cash-strapped NHS Lothian, it has emerged the project - which is a partnership with other east-coast health boards - will cost only 400,000 as opposed to the 900,000 first mooted.
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Hide AdThe 12-bed resource will be the first of its kind in the Lothians.
The decision to build it came amid concern from health experts that a growing number of young females were vulnerable to eating disorders as a quick fix to lose weight.
As it stands, most people with eating disorders are treated at the Royal Edinburgh psychiatric hospital in Morningside, a location deemed inappropriate by many sufferers.