My teenage child who has a long journey with an eating disorder is an inpatient - their 12th admission. They are not in an ‘eating disorder pod’ bed as I believe they are full. My child was due to start on a meal plan recently but because they are not in a pod bed they were unable to join the meal support. This did not make sense to me since the meal support group was only 6 and I believe they have space for 8. This has led to my child refusing all food and fluid and now has become unstable requiring NG feeding - that could require restraints. I believe the amount of staffing required for this manoeuvre is high and the trauma to my child unmeasurable. I feel it just does not make sense from a health Ecco and staffing perspective, and from a trauma/care perspective.
The number of children with severe eating disorders requiring recurrent admissions has increased dramatically in my opinion, over the past year and I would like to hear how PCH plans to respond to this. I believe more resourcing is definitely required. In my opinion, the nursing staff appear to be close to breaking point. I feel the status quo is inadequate.
"Lack of availability and support for eating disorder patients"
About: Perth Children's Hospital Perth Children's Hospital Nedlands 6009
Posted by Lil hen (as ),
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