Public health system forces NZ anorexics to find help in Australia

31 Jan 2009 09:22a.m.

lee wrote:

I think what this article failed to do is actually look at the bigger picture of overall lack of in patient beds for in particular children with any form of serious mental health disorders. My daughter has a serious mental health condition which was first diagnosed at age 8. The only form of in patient care for her is based at Princess Margaret Hospital in Christchurch. Whilst the staff there are fabulous the ability to access this hospital is very challenging frequently we are left trying to manage for weeks at home an acutely unwell child due to lack of available beds in PMH, no in patient provision within our DHB. This creates enormous stress for not just my daughter but the entire family unit and entails no little risk as there have been numerous instances where my daughter has been unsafe not just to herself but others. There seems to be a lack of acknowledment not just from local DHB level but within Ministry level that children can and do have serious mental health conditions that require intensive in patient treatment.
My daughter was recently discharged from PMH following a nearly 3 month long admission and the saff were truely amazing what is distressing is how badly things had to go wrong before she could be admitted. Discussion over my daughter's deteriating mental state was first occurring in June it was not until my daughter had injured someone in the community and had a significant 'outage' that she was admitted in September.

30 Jan 2009 10:13p.m.

Kim wrote:

I watched this article with interest. I found the article to be informative, highlighting the harsh reality about the limitations of not having access to an eating disorder inpatient unit within the Auckland Region. A unit, such as the one in Sydney, is well overdue in Auckland.

I was disappointed that EDS was not acknowledged for their current efforts despite funding restrictions at the DHB level beyond their control. As a current client that is on a waitlist for inpatient care in a private NZ facility these limitations are often discussed. The small team of highly dedicated staff at EDS are strongly advocating for a specialist inpatient unit; they have been for years.

Please recognise that the limitations of New Zealands current service have resulted as a lack of government agreement around how to fund a highly needed inpatient service and not due to the people that are currently working to help eating disordered individuals within a specialist outpatient service. And, despite all the inconvenience of sending people to Sydney, be glad the option is available - until we have a specialist inpatient unit in Auckland, it is currently the best option we have in regards to the treatment option we have available for people who need this treatment so that they can start their journey towards recovery!

30 Jan 2009 08:49p.m.

Emajane wrote:

I was so excited when i seen this advertised on tv. i thought something was finally going to be done about this problem. I think it's great that your raising awareness of the lack of support for anorexics in NZ.

However, what about all the people that suffer from other types of eating disorders? such as bulimia, EDNOS, binge eating disorder etc. They are also suffering from the shortage of care. The media attention always goes towards anorexia which is kind of reinforcing the message about thinness. something really needs to be done to help those suffering from all types of eating disorders, and not have the inpatient facilities only available to those close to death.
It makes NO sense to wait until they are so entwined in the illness that it's 1000 times harder to fight. not impossible. but harder.

10 years is far too long for the district health board to organise something. The government seems to be able to cough up money for roads and football stadiums. it's seems only fair that some money is given towards Eating disorder care.

This issue has been on my mind for a long time and mark my word for it. When i "grow up" I'm going to do my best to improve the current state of eating disorder care in NZ. And make it available to EveryBODY

Thanks.
Emajane

29 Jan 2009 04:49p.m.

Alison wrote:

Having waited on a waiting list for 6 months to gain a place at Eating Disorders for our 17 year old daughter, I can only support any moves to quickly improve the current service by creating an inpatient facility specifically for eating orders. I would disagree that there is medical care for medically compromised sufferers of anorexia as I discovered last year when my daughter was admitted to North Shore Hospital weighing barely 33kg. Having waited for a bed on a ward for 36 hours (12 of those in a corridor) I was told that they were unable to tell me when a bed would be available. I made the decision, at that point, to bring my daughter home as I felt that was the best thing for her at that stage, as I was then able to ensure she got some sleep and was fed consistently. The emotional stress of this terrible illness on not only the sufferer but on their family is difficult to describe and anything that can lessen this by providing intensive treatment immediately a diagnosis is made is essential. I have been lucky in that my daughter has had the support of a wonderful GP and of Marinoto North whilst waiting for a place at EDS but other families wait with little or no support and this cannot be allowed to continue.

29 Jan 2009 03:47p.m.

Jess wrote:

hi John,
having suffered from an eating disorder myself when i was 15, i understand the importance of early intervention in people displaying the warning signs of a possible eating disorder. I was lucky to have a great support team from my friends, parents and the staff at Carmel College. I think opening an inpatient care centre is crucial in saving lives, however, when this point is reached the damage the eating disorder has done to the patients mind and body are often irreversible. Organisations like EDEN are helping to raise awareness regarding the importance of healthy self-esteem, and i think it is these measures that are most beneficial in lowering the rates of eating disorders. There are many other means of care, and i was lucky to be refered to a psychiatrist and psychologist specialising in eating disorders before the illness had progressed to the stage of hospitilisation. Hopefully if we can put some focus on the early recognition and intervention in the development of eating disorders we may be able to reduce the number of desperate families having to venture off-shore for treatment
regards,
Jess

29 Jan 2009 02:01p.m.

maree burns wrote:

It is clear that services for people who are seriously ill with an eating disorder must be improved immediately however providing inpatient beds is only part of a sensible response to this problem. It is also vitally important that we fund services that are able to provide information, referral, early intervention, and support before people become really wunell and for those who have subclinical problems. To ONLY focus on those who require hospitalisation is short sighted.

29 Jan 2009 08:54a.m.

Matthew Poole wrote:

Sorry John but your piece was factually inaccurate if well intentioned.

There IS inpatient care for anorexia in the upper North Island. My daughter and several others are currently in such care in Auckland Hospital and it is superb.

What there is NOT is a DEDICATED inpatient factility. Quite a different thing.

While it is nice to simplify to communicate a story, I think you should clarify.

The care my daughter is in Startship. There is a team there with special interest in managing anorexia, although not dedicated beds/ward. Their work is outstanding.

Less simple to communicate but more accurate would be to say that in the upper north island:
- there is inpatient care for those medically compromised by anorexia
- inpatient care depends on the action of hospital clinicians (not the easy-target "DHB" as this is treated as a medical admission so access and control rests with the clinicians not administrators)
- there is no dedicated facility
- access to the medical facilities is difficult, and the process for accessing these is not well known by the medical profession, nor publicly available.

Terrific that there will be a dedicated inpatient facility - if it arrives. But please correct your statements. The care could be provided in our existing hospitals in the meantime. They have the dieticians, psychiatrists, catering, medical, drugs, etc all on hand already.

28 Jan 2009 10:49p.m.

Brian wrote:

We are glad to see your show highlight the problems faced by those suffering Anorexia (and their families) as it is a very misunderstood and underrated illness. While it does affect mainly young girls, the age range of those currently registere is from ten to sixty and there are growing number of boys being afflicted. In fact, Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness and without proper support can leave them with long term or even permanent medical and/or psychological damage.
It would have been heartening to have acknowledgement of the efforts made by the small team at the Eating Disorders unit at Greenlane Hospital in Auckland. They are so overwhelmed by the number of patients being referred to them (by GP's etc), that they can only take on the more serious (and too often, life threatening) cases. Unfortunately this prevents any chance of early or pre-emptive intervention by professionals, which we all know would reduce the impact on them as well as greatly reduce the cost and workload of the medical system.
The various Government enquiries, commitees, boards and recomendations referred to in your interview have been going on for far more than the ten years they claimed, with no real progress.
As we all know, it comes down to how much each DHB expects to contribute as their 'fair share' in relation to how nay of the patients are within their area.
We do hope that the Minister receives their reports by the end of February and that action to help these people and their families follows soon after.

Kind regards,
Brian!

28 Jan 2009 09:33p.m.

Brenda Segedin wrote:

John

I watched your programme this evening about how New Zealanders suffering from Anorexia are being failed by the public health system.

Nearly 20 years ago in the USA an organisation was established to help young people with Anorexia. "Mercy Ministries" is a fabulous, Christian based organisation which has since been established in Australia and in 2003, established a residence in Albany, Auckland. You can obtain more information from their website.

Maybe the NZ Public Health system can financially support this organisation to continue their great work for young people rather than wasting money researching new ways to provide the necessary facilities. They are here in New Zealand, on our doorstep. Recipients of care for anorexia or other conditions that affect young people need not been Christian to attend, but Mercy's philosophies are great, assisting patients and familites in a positive future.

Maybe Campbelllive could look into this organisation and do a future programme on Mercy Minitries, bringing public awareness to their work. At the same time interview Tony Ryall again bringing his awareness to what is already available and how the public health system can assist financially what is already being done, and done successfully.