Ten days ago I wrote about the tragic story of Alan Mullin who committed suicide in prison when he should have been receiving treatment for his mental illness. Today I return to mental health but this time to the lack of provision within my health board, Lothian, for those with eating disorders.
I am close to one who suffers from an eating disorder, who has been diagnosed as having an eating disorder but who must join an obscenely long waiting list for treatment at a specialist centre:
Twelve to fourteen months to reach the front of the queue.
Twelve to fourteen months after formal diagnosis before treatment.
Twelve to fourteen months without treatment.
Twelve to fourteen months to continue damaging one's body.
Twelve to fourteen months to continue to suffer the psychological problems underlying the disorder.
Twelve to fourteen months to deteriorate.
One can jump the queue by increasing one's risk factors: if one loses even more weight or shows major changes to other physical or cognitive attributes. Therefore, make oneself worse, thinner, more dangerously ill; do oneself more damage and one may get earlier treatment.
Make oneself worse to get treatment? Those with a diagnosis are already very ill. They should get treatment without the delay. They must get treatment without this delay!
That those who are so ill must wait more than one year for treatment is obscene.
Obviously, there are insufficient resources within the NHS!
But why are there insufficient resources?
Is mental health not "sexy" enough; are there not enough votes in it?
Twelve to fourteen months!!
Does no-one in power care?
Do no MSPs care?
You bloody well should care!
I CARE!!!
and
I AM NOT GOING AWAY!!!
5 comments:
Statistics hide stories and it's right to expose their smug rhetoric at every opportunity. I absolutely detest Patricia Hewitt who seems totally unconnected with the issues.
Calum good luck with your fight.
Don't go away and meanwhile, Calum ... don't forget to get those nominations in for the Blogpower Awards - vote early and vote often!
I have gone completely mad and no one will help me!!
Disgusting - but not surprising....
How our illusions about state provisions shatter when we need them most...
Shani
Calum, you point out an appalling situation that is going to get worse unless the Scottish public stand up and be counted.
I am close to someone who could have died, because on countless visits to her GP over several years, a serious health problem was not noticed till it was nearly too late. If it was not for an eagle eyed district nurse then it would have been too late. A major operation was promised within the week but fingers were crossed for six weeks till the patient was fit enough to go though the operation. Luckily all was well in the end, but no thanks to the GP
Then a year later the same patient was put on anti depressants, which not only did not help, but made the situation worse. Pleading with the GP for a year to change the medication, fell on deaf ears and it was only after consulting another partners in the practice, that her medication was finally changed. In no time the new prescribed drug gave the patient a better quality of life.
The patient and her husband have to accept part of the blame, because they did not complain or kick up a fuss at either incident. At first they trusted their GP and then later they were relieved that things had worked out OK, that they did not make an official complaint.
But this was wrong because they suffered years of distress and the outcome could have been fatal. I wonder how many others will be in the same boat because they did not highlight the lack of professionalism from this particular GP?
There are situations where a patient can wait a year for a small op without too much problem, but certainly not with eating disorders and mental health. 12-14 months can be the difference between of life or death of the patient, or them ever returning to full health.
If the patient cannot stick up for themselves because of their condition then their friends should make an appointment to see in person their MSP and the head of their local health authority. Also continuous letters to their local and even nation media should be high on their agenda.
If that does not work then a speedy appointment should be on to see Mr Salmond and the Scottish health Minister.
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