Anorexia Dying

[UnmoderatetheNet]

My best friend is dying from the Anorexia, two specialists have told her she will be dead if she does not get help, followed by not my department have you tried A&E? She has been passed from piller to post and back again over 5 months now, she receives assessment after assesment, yet nothing gets done.

 

Her GP says things like 'thats terrible sorry I can't help' have you tried A&E?

 

Incidentally, A&E gave her protein shake and packed her off.

 

The problem is her BMI is just slightly above the threshold she needs to be admitted. She is also in favour of receiving help which goes against her because she can't be sectioned.

 

No one is doing anything.

 

I don't know if I should get a xmas card or condolence card.

 

please some one helpppppp

Edited December 20, 2012 by UnmoderatetheNet

[honeybee13]

Hello there. How worrying for you.

 

I think there's a support group for anorexia sufferers/patients. Have you sought advice from there?

 

My best, HB

[honeybee13]

I found this, hope it helps a bit. If you google anorexia, there seem to be quite a few other websites.

 

http://www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/

 

HB

[UnmoderatetheNet]

thanks for the quick reply.

 

No but I can't see how they can help. support is not what she needs she needs someone to say 'lets get you a bed and give you a chance' I suppose that is too expensive, her death is a much cheaper

[UnmoderatetheNet]

thanks i'll give them a call but its the f**king NHS that need to do something.

[honeybee13]

Don't give up hope. They may be able to tell you how to persuade the NHS to treat her. This may have happened before.

 

Has she seen the community mental health team?

 

HB

[UnmoderatetheNet]

Don't give up hope. They may be able to tell you how to persuade the NHS to treat her. This may have happened before.

 

Has she seen the community mental health team?

 

HB

 

these are the people it took three months to work out she might actually need help. I think its time to dust off the old cag skills being a veteran myself of previous campaigns such as the last stand at bank charges and I was one of the first units into the melee after cattles fled the battlefield, sound like my grandad

 

okay so Sar'ing the NHS.

 

any idea where i get a draft 'NHS you are useless explain letter'?

[stu007]

Hi

 

Using a SAR for the NHS might not work as these as medical records so to speak and you may have to look at your local NHS procedure for requesting copies of the medical documents, it would also be the same for the local GP please check first as procedures are different in different areas.

[UnmoderatetheNet]

Thanks for your help people. I'm not getting into politics but is a Health service that people don't die waiting for help too much to ask?

[stu007]

Hi

 

I can fully sympathise with the situation as i went through a similar fiasco some yrs ago and it aint easy against the NHS but I can fully understand you wanting to help and you have my respect for that.

 

You are correct they do need some sort of help but you really need to know why the different agencies/clinic they are attending are refusing such help.

 

If they are using the excuse is not our area of expertise you need GP to refer you that is sorry to put it this way, its a Load of Bull. Its them being LAZY

 

If say i.e. the hospital dietican says you need to really see say neurology as its not my department. then its not your responsibility to go to GP and request this,it is for the dietician to make that referral for you to be seen at neurology. (This is an example only) but hopefully you get my point.

 

What I would try to do is collate as much evidence as possible as you have already asked by getting the medical records, then make a Formal Complaint to the relevant NHS Board.

 

Also if you are going to act on this person behalf you may need them to do a letter of Authority giving you permission to act on their behalf. This way it will say you time.

 

This link on how to access NHS Medical Record may be of help: http://www.nhsmedicalrecords.org.uk/medicalrecords.php

 

Also this PDF fron The Independent Complaints Advocacy Service may be of help:

Edited December 21, 2012 by stu007

[honeybee13]

Hello again.

 

There's also PALS, the patient liaison people. I wonder if they could help?

 

HB

[seanamarts]

Is your friend still under the mental health team, if not why?

 

If your friend has been diagnosed with anorexia then she should have a support net work in place.

[Nystagmite]

What can A&E do? From what I understand, she needs some sort of long term medical intervention, which A&E can't do.

 

If this was me, I would write (or get someone else to) what plan of action I need. If needs be, I think Mind can help with something like this? Or B-eat? (eating disorder charity)

[Zonker]

I know this isnt to much help, but in my experience is unless you have to be admitted to hospital or can take some kind of pill the doctors really cant be that bothered. I know that sounds pretty counter productive, but as we all know the cuts affecting the NHS are gonna fall on the mental health side pretty hard and they 'prefer' you to self refer to charities that help in those areas.

 

Your friend may well be in the state of an altered brain chemistry ( its pretty well documented anorexic people cant see whats wrong with what they are doing and feel they are still fat when they look like a concentration camp victim) and appear to the doctor to be 'in control.' There are also some very very severe long term health problems associated with a prolonged 'starvation' Stripping of calcium / vitamins from bones and also heart tissue damage are 2 things that come to mind.

 

As regards to A&E , each A&E unit should have an on call psychriatic nurse/doctor. I believe this is for those at immediate risk , but as i understand correctly if seeking assistance from A&E on a matter and they are made aware that a mental health issue has led them to be there , then they can refer to on call psychiatric team. This team then can refer on to the normal mental health care team.

 

I do wish well for your friend and hope you can get the help needed.