Employees at a specialized eating disorder facility have been caught on camera resting when they were supposed to be supervising patients who were vulnerable to self-harm.
Several “unsafe” events occurred due to staff mistakes, as reported by insiders.
Several critically ill patients have shared with the Muara Digital Team that they felt their stay on the unit worsened their condition.
Schoen Clinic York stated, “where particular concerns have been brought up, they have been thoroughly examined and resolved,” but no “widespread problems” were identified.
The unit ceased operations on August 27, as stated by the NHS, because of “insufficient referrals from various parts of England to the service.” The company continues to operate a dementia unit within the same building.
We initially learned about issues in the eating disorder unit from a woman, whom we are referring to as Naomi.
She was there in 2024 and reached out to us viaYour Voice, Your Muara Digital Team News after reading a statement in which MPs referred to the increase in cases as an “emergency”.
In total, we have interviewed nine former patients and five staff members who shared the following:
- Employees resting while they were supposed to be supervising vulnerable patients
- Staff observing patients engaging in self-harm without providing assistance
- Patients suffering from eating disorders were provided with unsanitary food.
- Employees using provocative language such as “you’re not slim enough to be here”
If you are experiencing any of the problems mentioned in this article, support can be accessed through theMuara Digital Team’s Contact Page.
Naomi, in her 30s, wished to remain at home while undergoing treatment for her anorexia to keep caring for her child. Nevertheless, she was informed that community-based treatment was not an option, and she would have to be admitted to the Schoen Clinic York for continuous specialized care.
Two years prior, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had classified the service as “good,” noting that it delivered “safe care” and effectively handled risks.
However, all the patients that the Muara Digital Team has spoken to, including Naomi, strongly contest the healthcare regulator’s conclusions. They spent time in the unit following the CQC’s inspection and were supported by the NHS.
Since 2022, the CQC mentioned that there has been “ongoing oversight of the provider,” which included two site visits to engage with patients and employees. They expressed “concern” over the fact that “individuals who accessed the service feel so disappointed.”
Daily care at Schoen Clinic York’s eating disorder service was primarily delivered by nurses and healthcare support staff, including those from agency providers.
Patients noted that while some were “hardworking” and “supportive,” others had limited exposure to mental health matters and occasionally showed a lack of empathy.
The Muara Digital Team has viewed images and a video captured by two patients, Naomi and Harriet, who claim they depict three staff members sleeping during periods when they were supposed to be supervising them.
A patient instruction manual stated that they would be “monitored” for 40 minutes following each meal — a period during which they might feel the urge to eliminate food from their system through vomiting, using laxatives, or engaging in excessive exercise.
Naomi mentioned that she took her picture not long after having her meal.
Upset about the “poor treatment” she experienced, Naomi snapped a photo of the sleeping healthcare worker to demonstrate that it had occurred.
She mentioned it “felt as if we were completely ignored as patients” and “showed a lack of concern.”
Molly, 23, hailing from Leeds, spent four months at Schoen in 2023 and shares Naomi’s viewpoint.
While staying there, Molly needed one-on-one monitoring to stop her from overexercising. Still, she mentioned that she would often “wake up during the night and hear staff snoring,” so she would leave her bed and quietly walk around the room to burn off energy.
Individuals suffering from eating disorders are at higher risk of engaging in self-harm. Nevertheless, patients reported that some staff members did not offer suitable therapeutic assistance.
“I was in my room, harming myself. The staff would enter and witness me doing it, then leave without saying a word,” said Abbie, 26, who was an inpatient in 2023.
One night, the staff intervened after Abbie intentionally harmed her head. She claims she was taken to the emergency department, but the healthcare professional assigned to her fell asleep in the waiting area for multiple hours.
“I wanted to run away, but I was in too much pain to move,” she said.
The absence of oversight placed vulnerable patients in “dangerous” conditions, as reported by staff members who have chosen to stay anonymous due to concerns that speaking up could affect their future careers.
We presented the results of our inquiry to Dr. Ashish Kumar, the chair of the Eating Disorders Faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
I understand that occasionally there are employees who are overburdened or departments that lack sufficient personnel,” he stated. “However, failing to respond to patients in distress can result in greater harm and potentially even death.
Schoen mentioned that they couldn’t address specific cases but noted that staff “anticipate and handle the risk” of self-harm by using “personalized care plans, increased monitoring when needed, and clinical escalation procedures.”
All employees have been “screened, educated, and monitored prior to interacting with patients,” it stated.
It’s reasonable that the quality of food provided to someone with an eating disorder plays a significant role in their healing process.
Nevertheless, patients mentioned they did not feel heard when they consistently expressed worries regarding the food provided at Schoen Clinic York.
A woman shared with us that she and others received food containing hair in May 2025.
“I was thinking, ‘I can’t eat that. We have food issues here, you can’t serve us food with hair in it,'” she said.
A month prior, health inspectors assigned a one-star food safety rating to Schoen. Just 90 out of 31,380 care facilities in England received such a poor score.
Issues involved kitchen staff not using hair nets or securing their hair.
Several patients mentioned that the food was occasionally “unpalatable.”
“Whenever we expressed our concerns, they responded with ‘it’s just your eating disorder speaking,'” recalled former patient Harriet, who was admitted to the unit in 2023.
In the same year, Molly’s mother, Sarah, became so worried that she sent a letter to the clinic’s administration.
Meat that resembles cartilage, jelly, and fat, along with a significant amount of gristle, is frequently found in the dishes,” she wrote. “I anticipate the nutritional quality to be top-notch in order to encourage patients to eat.
In reply, Schoen stated that he takes “any issues regarding food quality very seriously.”
“There was a time when we had to use a specific food vendor chosen by our landlords,” which “matches the period when certain patients expressed worries,” a representative stated.
Schoen stated that it had “resolved the concerns” raised during the most recent food safety inspection, and its kitchens are now managed by a new head chef.
“I’m completely shocked and appalled to learn about these awful experiences,” stated Wera Hobhouse, the leader of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Eating Disorders, .
In response to patient reports about staff at Schoen using provocative language like “just eat something,” the Liberal Democrat MP stated that eating disorders are frequently viewed as a personal choice and there is significant blame placed on patients.
“We are aware that individuals can completely recover from an eating disorder, yet too many patients are receiving care in facilities where the staff lack sufficient training,” she added.
Schoen Clinic York grew in February to provide care for dementia patients within the same facility as those with eating disorders, and the Muara Digital Team has been informed that staff will transition between the two services.
The Muara Digital Team discovered that a week following the closure of the eating disorder unit in August, the dementia unit—also referred to as Wellen Court—was halted from taking in new patients due to safety issues.
The New York City Council, which supports local dementia care placements, stated it had “temporarily stopped” new admissions to guarantee “a secure atmosphere”.
Due to its worries, the CQC conducted an unexpected inspection, with the results set to be released soon.
Schoen stated that it supported “increased protective measures” and that its residents were provided with “excellent levels of care.”
- If you are experiencing any of the problems discussed in this article, support can be accessed through theMuara Digital Team’s Contact Page.
- Call for eating disorders to be treated as a crisis, MPs say
Related internet links
- Schoen Clinic Group
