Univa, a pioneering digital health company focused on clinical innovation in eating disorders, and First Steps ED, a leading UK charity dedicated to eating disorder support, have announced the launch of a primary care pilot program. This program aims to provide faster and more personalized support for young people with early-stage eating disorders.
The pilot will utilize the Univa Care Platform, the first digital program in NHS (National Health Service) eating disorder services that offers support for both patients and their caregivers simultaneously. Families will have the option to choose between a digital-first intervention that can be started immediately, or a blended care approach that combines the digital program with additional clinical sessions from First Steps ED.
The need for innovation in this field has never been more pressing. Eating disorders are one of the fastest-growing mental health conditions in the UK, with children and teenagers being the most affected. Hospital admissions for girls aged 11-15 have increased by 514% over the past decade, and in 2023, less than half of young people referred to specialist services were able to access treatment. The rise is not limited to girls – between 2015 and 2021, hospital admissions for boys and young men increased by 128%. The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ 2024 review highlighted the urgent need for change in the current system, with child and adolescent eating disorder services failing to meet NHS waiting time standards and struggling to keep up with demand.
This pilot program has the potential to become a new national model for eating disorder care, combining digital innovation, family empowerment, and clinical efficiency to address one of the most urgent mental health challenges of our time.
Dr. Alison Cowan, GP Clinical Lead for Hertfordshire’s Children & Young Person’s Mental Health System and GP within the Hertfordshire CYP Eating Disorders Team, stated, “As GPs, we are seeing an increasing number of young people presenting with eating difficulties and the strain this places on families. New models of early intervention such as this, which can reach patients sooner, on a larger scale, and in ways that fit around their lives, would be a valuable addition to the Hertfordshire eating disorders support. This pilot with Univa and First Steps ED is an exciting step forward, as digital interventions have a crucial role to play in primary care, helping us to provide earlier, more accessible support and reduce the need for escalation to specialist services.”
Rich Andrews, CEO and Co-Founder of Univa, commented, “Primary care is often the first point of contact for families seeking help, but it has never had a scalable solution for eating disorders. With the Univa Care Platform, we are changing that. By providing personalized care pathways for both young people and their carers, and by offering a choice between digital-first and blended support, we are creating a model that is personal, immediate, and proven.”
Daniel Magson, CEO of First Steps ED, added, “For too long, families have had to endure the agony of waiting for support, knowing that every week matters. Eating disorders are often treatable conditions, and people can make a full recovery from them, but early intervention is crucial. By partnering with Univa, we are bringing innovation directly into the community, empowering families to take control earlier.”
This one-year pilot program, which is aligned with the NHS, will be integrated into primary care, the first point of contact for most families seeking help. This gives GPs, local care teams, and schools access to a new digital model of early intervention. By shifting support upstream, the pilot aims to improve outcomes and symptoms for young people while also reducing waiting times, preventing escalation into crisis, and alleviating the strain on overburdened secondary care services. The program is supported by six NHS Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in Hertfordshire: Stort Valley and Villages, Hitchin and Whitwell, Harpenden Health, Abbey Health, Alban Healthcare, and HaLo St Albans PCNs.
The pilot program aligns with the NHS Fit for the Future: 10 Year Health Plan, which advocates for a shift from hospital to community care, a digital-first NHS, and a prevention-driven model that intervenes early rather than late.
At the heart of the pilot program is the Univa Care Platform, a first-of-its-kind dual-care system that offers separate but connected digital care pathways for both the young person and their carer – an innovation not yet seen in NHS eating disorder care. Families with a child aged 12-18 experiencing symptoms of anorexia or restrictive eating behaviors can choose between:
– Digital-first care – an app-based program that is instantly accessible for both the young person and their carer, featuring evidence-based modules, daily and weekly check-ins, and progress tracking. This scalable model provides an immediate lifeline for families who want to begin care without delay.
– Blended care – digital programs combined with personalized support from the First Steps ED clinical team
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.