Eating disorder treatment in Ireland

[pembroke488]

Dd has anorexia, my head is reeling, it has happened so quickly. We now need inpatient care. We were so worried a couple of weeks ago, we took her to A&E, arrived at 3pm and by 7am the next morning we still hadn't seen the psychiatrist, she wasn't 'bad enough' to be a priority. She has constant palpitations but they wouldn't do an ECG. Add to that the appalling things we saw in the waiting room, well that's another thread entirely.

She was so traumatised by the experience that she made a huge effort to eat, so we were so upset when we went back to the GP yesterday to find she has lost more weight. She has a recurring UTI, second dose of antibiotics in three weeks. The last time she needed them was when she was a toddler. She is super healthy usually.

GP recommended John of Gods, but she's not covered by private health insurance so we're looking into getting a loan to cover the cost. GP didn't seem keen to send her into the public system.

Does anyone have any experience of the public v private treatment?

GP recommended John of Gods, but she's not covered by private health insurance so we're looking into getting a loan to cover.
Hello, I'm sorry your DD is suffering, John of God is CAMH's you won't need health insurance afaik they accept eating disorder patients quickly.
Aneroxia is highly linked to ASD formerly asperger's.
My DD doesn't eat when stresses she's very slim, under CAMH'S for anxiety, my fear is anorexia is on the cards for the future.
Lee Harlow adolescent private psychology is very reasonably priced.
You can apply for DCA which will help pay towards CBT.
CAMH/JO'G should take her.
Look for CBT specialists.

Private appointments have a 4/5 month wait, apply for DCA in the meantime.
Also join DCA warriors on FB for information on private treatment plans or group sessions.
Sensational DC is brilliant but ultimately it will fall to you with the hard home psychologically work.

@pembroke488

Don't take out a loan. Go to the public system. Hard to say without knowing your area but if she's unwell and under 18 she'll be seen very quickly.
When you get to camhs ask about FBT and look up bodywhys.

Thanks so much for your replies, much appreciated. I have spent a lot of time on the phone, ruled out SJOG, they wouldn't even talk to me without insurance. Also spoke to an incredibly rude woman in cahms, who really put me off sending dd anywhere near them. I know I shouldn't judge based on one person, but she was awful.

A friend put me on to a specialist psychologist and we were able to have brief zoom meeting yesterday and will follow up next week. She does CBT-E which is great, I think that will work well for dd. We will have to pay but may be able to claim against tax. Thanks for the information about DCA, unfortunately she's too old to apply, but we'll manage.

In the meantime we need to get her weight stabilised or else she's facing bed rest which she would absolutely hate. That will be the real challenge. We have a meal plan she's agreed to try to stick to and we're seeing a dietitian in a couple of weeks, earliest appointment I could get.

I'm told there are 3 ED beds in St Vincents, which are always full and anyone else is sent to a general ward with no talking therapy, just bed rest and 'feeding'. As she's 17 we wouldn't be able to stay with her, she would have a health care assistant with her 24/7 to make sure she didn't try to get out of bed. This is what passes for 'care', what a travesty.

The only access to appropriate beds, if she needs a bed is through camhs.
Do you mean she would have to be admitted to a general adult bed if she was too medically unstable to be admitted to an adolescent psychiatric unit?
Well if that was the case she'd be too medically unwell for therapy, so admission to a general medical ward would be appropriate+ only for a period of time to get her medically stable, at which point she might be ready for therapy which she would get if she was in a psychiatric in patient bed.
Get your GP to make a referral to CAMHS, who cares about a rude woman, was she just some one who answered the phone and wouldn't tell you much? It doesn't make sense for you to criticize "what passes for care" if you haven't even agreed to accept the care that is there, based on what you've heard??

As she is 17 she isn't entitled to DCA but she would be entitled to disability allowance, I understand she isn’t disabled but anorexia is incapacitating, I'm an ex ano, this money will fund private therapies.
I know there is a guilty feeling claiming it.
I didn't for 3 years some silly pride thing, both DC have ASD.
Since doing it I've cut back working, paid for private therapies.
Both DC are good and steady thanks to private professional help.
I'm suggesting it as you mentioned a loan, you may qualify for carers benefit from prsi contributions too.
It's a long road of recovery until she can manage it, it always lives in your mind, there is a subconscious daily battle.

Get your GP to make a referral to CAMHS, who cares about a rude woman, was she just some one who answered the phone and wouldn't tell you much.
2nd this, she has only 1 year left with CAMH'S, they accepted DD quickly with her MH.

Also agree to try CAMHS again - go via your GP and ask them to pull every string going. I have a child with CAMHS in Lucena (different reasons) and the hardest part is getting in the door but once we finally got in we have found them really helpful and responsive. In our case we were rejected a number of times pre-pandemic before finally being accepted. I was speaking to the receptionist the other day and she said they are very overstretched - the impact of the pandemic is really being felt, so I imagine they are under a lot of pressure.

Good luck and hugs OP. My sister had quite severe anorexia at the same age so I can semi-relate. It was a long road to recovery, but she is well and happy now.

Another saying push for CAMHS referral here. Put your dislike of the team to one side - this might not be something you can manage without the help of a professional team around her. If you can access a bed publicly grab it. FBT (family based therapy) seems to be the treatment plan of choice these days. The Maudsley book for parents and families is also worth looking at. Your local town/city may have a ED support group that might be able to discuss options with you at this stage.

Lisa Murphy, a lady in Cork recently did a go fund me to raise money for her inpatient treatment. It was something like €60k to find the 3 months programme.

Another saying push for CAMHS referral here. Put your dislike of the team to one side.
You might be surprised too, I was dreading our appointment hearing terrible things, the appointment came really quickly and the psychologist was absolutely brilliant.