I am always in awe of the spin the HSE puts in its quotes and responses.
Here are some of my favourites:
This quote is a response that was received by us through our local TDs on the 4th of August, 2023. At this stage, there were five denial letters from Linn Dara that I’m aware of, sent to CAMHS and Temple Street hospital, saying she was not accepted because we do not live in the catchment area. I would love to know which response is accurate- whether it is actually a catchment issue, or whether it is “not clinically appropriate.” They are two very different things.

We responded by asking who made this decision, why it wasn’t clinically appropriate (considering CAMHS and Temple Street Hospital both referred her to Linn Dara), and what my daughter’s care plan actually is, but we did not receive a response.
I also enjoy this one:

We received this letter from the HSE through our local TDs. At first I was surprised to hear she had finally secured a bed in an inpatient unit, after 7 months spent in Temple Street Hospital. But then I got suspicious. We had been told previously that St. Joseph’s could not accept her unless she was eating orally for five days. So when we queried this letter with Temple Street, they confirmed the five day guideline. So while the letter makes it sound like she finally had a bed in an inpatient unit, she in fact did not, because she was not capable of eating for five days in a row.
I also like the below, which was quoted in the Irish Independent article by Sarah Burke (https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/dublin-news/i-really-dont-want-any-other-family-to-go-through-this-dublin-mother-to-protest-over-camhs-reform/a825972531.html).
My comments are in red.
“A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: “As part of the additional funding secured under Budget 2024, a number of new posts will be available to support youth mental health service provision and development.
"This includes posts to support eating disorders, as well as across dual diagnosis and early intervention psychosis.
“In relation to eating disorder services specifically, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has prioritised eating disorder (ED) services as part of its National Clinical Programmes (NCP) which aim to develop high-quality, person-centred, integrated care through a clinician-led, evidence-based approach to service reform.
“While a small number of people benefit from more intensive treatment through day programmes or inpatient care, the most effective treatment setting is in the community.
While this may be true, the community support services just are not there. I only received meal coaching and family therapy as part of my daughter’s inpatient stay. She only received occupational therapy and family therapy as part of her inpatient stay.
“Dedicated community-based Eating Disorder services, where multidisciplinary teams have specialist training, can provide evidence-based care and treatment.
“The HSE also funds patients in private facilities based on individual clinical need, as assessed by the local mental health team, and the prioritisation of available funding.
The HSE never offered to fund a private facility for my daughter, most likely because of her reliance on the NG tube, and lack of NG facilities in private care. In her case, both public and private inpatient facilities would not accept her, so she did not receive the treatment she deserved, but rather got stuck in a children’s hospital for much longer than necessary, not receiving much needed psychiatric care.
“Children and adolescents with eating disorders can access treatment through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) community teams.
We did have access to CAMHS after a long wait, but since my daughter was malnourished she was not offered therapy as they thought it would not be effective. The treatment consisted of monitoring her weight and vitals.
“Children and adolescents with an eating disorder diagnosis who require inpatient treatment can be referred to one of the CAMHS-inpatient-approved centres.
Yes, you can be referred to a CAMHS-inpatient-approved centre, but you can also be rejected because of catchment area restrictions, it not being “clinically appropriate,” or whatever else they decide.
“Specialist eating disorder beds are available in Merlin Park, Galway and Linn Dara, Dublin. There are plans for an eating disorder unit in the new National Children’s Hospital which will provide eight additional beds.
“It should be noted that there is no specific number of eating disorder beds. Rather, the need for such service is often accommodated within the CAMHS unit beds.
“The Department of Health will undertake detailed discussions with the HSE in the coming months to finalise the Mental Health element of the new HSE Service Plan 2024.
“During 2023, several waiting list initiatives have been undertaken across various CHOs to reduce the waiting list for CAMHS. This waiting list initiative is ongoing.””
In other words, our experience differed greatly from what the HSE is saying. If these changes are in the plans, I will believe it when I see it.
Comments