ED services / units in your area

[Cet73]

Hi, I'm new to posting on mumsnet. I was just wondering if many of you have been able to access specialist ED help and how long wait times were. Also, if its this year, how have they been providing the support during the pandemic? And any of you have experience of day care?

I have received care in the past at my local unit about ten miles from where I live in Hampshire. It did help to a point but I had some personal family issues which kind of 'stuck' and I did not reach point of full recovery. But it did help a lot. Now I know I'm relapsing especially during this lockdown, and wonder if in the future I should seek help again. But to me I'm imagining services must be very limited at the mo with the pandemic. Any go private or use Orri?
Really hope you are all holding up in these challenging times.

Kc x

Hello,
I have a friend with a daughter who has used Orri and is very satisfied I believe. Maybe worthwhile giving them a call. Many private places are extortionate in prices which is very difficult.

I think it varies greatly from area to area. I feel very lucky - I had an initial 4 month wait (they said this was unusual but had a few staff off ill) and I’ve been in outpatients treatment for a year now with specialist support from psychologist, psychiatrist and dietitian. All NHS. We moved to phone appointments for a while during lockdown but we’ve been back to face to face appointments for quite a while now.
Worth finding out OP, the wait might not be as long as you think.

@Star8181 I hope you don't mind me asking. After you spoke to your GP about your referral, how long was it before anyone contacted you again?

I spoke to my GP 3 nearly 4 weeks ago and I've not heard anything from anyone.

Hello @lamacorn, if I remember rightly, I heard from them quite quickly (2/3 weeks?) for an initial assessment. This was to decide if I was suitable for outpatient treatment. Then I had to wait approx 4 months for a psychologist to be assigned to me.
I don’t think there’s any harm in phoning the GP to ask if where the referral is up to....maybe just ask the secretary to look at your notes? Hope you hear something soon, the waiting is hard.

@Star8181 it was 4 weeks yesterday. I've just checked.

Not sure what to do now.

@lamacorn are you able to phone or email your GP surgery to ask for an update? Do you have someone who can be with you for support when you phone?
I remember how hard it was when you finally make the decision to ask for help then you have to wait. It’s tough.

@Star8181
I've not spoken to anyone about it. I barely spoke to the GP.

Not sure I'll be able to pluck up courage to ring and ask.

How are you getting on @Cet73, have you managed to access any help yet? Hope you are okay.

@lamacorn have you heard anything yet?

@Star8181 thanks for asking. I plucked up courage and phoned GP. She hasn't referred me. In fact hasn't done anything in an entire month.
She said she needs to print off the referral form and I then need to attend the surgery to sign it? Did you have to sign a form?

When I was referred to rheumatology I didn't need to sign a form?

And also why wait an entire month?

I'm now complete confused.
If anyone else had to sign a form please let me know and let me know what it was all about.

@lamacorn I’m really annoyed for you that your GP hasn’t done anything, that’s so poor. She should realise what a massive step it is to ask for help. You are doing brilliantly though, well done for phoning up. I didn’t have to sign anything from the GP, but I did have pages of questionnaires from the ED service that I had to fill in and sign before my first appointment. However, things are differently in different areas, so I would just sign the form. You can do it and you deserve to get the help you need.

@Star8181 she said she couldn't print the form off until the end of next week because her computer was broken. Wtf.

I'm kind of confused. It's like she's stalling but I can't work out why.

Any ideas?