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I can't believe that in a meeting today about developing #eatingdisorders services I had to point out that "inclusion criteria" automatically implies "exclusion criteria".
Sure, this is necessary for some treatment, but shouldn't be the case for referral and assessment
Sure, this is necessary for some treatment, but shouldn't be the case for referral and assessment
If we are serious about catching #eatingdisorders upstream/early intervention, then self-referral is a must.
Anyone who has the courage to recognise they or a loved one may have difficulties 100% deserves to at least be *assessed*.
Anyone who has the courage to recognise they or a loved one may have difficulties 100% deserves to at least be *assessed*.
I feel that services are still scared of opening the floodgates of self-referral. Well, better the problems you know. Worse, the problems that don't present until emergencies which are personally and economically costly.
At least assess people, please. Even if you can't offer treatment because of resources, everyone deserves an assessment of what they DO need, irrespective of the NHS's ability to meet that need.
Otherwise, people feel they are unworthy, they are not unwell enough, they are deficient. But they are not. Resources, services, training and political will to address #eatingdisorders are deficient, not patients.
Transparency about the gap that often exists between the needs of someone experiencing an eating disorder & what services are able to provide HELPS. It is not a failure for a service to say that they can't offer what they think someone really needs - it is validating to hear.
Most of all we need HONESTY. Self-referral will give a more honest picture of who might be struggling and removes a barrier that shouldn't exist, resulting in preventable decline in the health of individuals...
...honesty about the limitations of services rather than defensiveness, restricting access and narrowing referral routes. Honesty about how new measures to improve services may not help those with long duration of illness, and will never make up for what they were denied. Thanks
