Auckland needs inpatient care facilities

JASON OXENHAM/Auckland City Harbour News

NOT ENOUGH: Eating Disorder Association spokesman Peter Jeffries wants local health boards to open an inpatient centre.

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Help could be on the way for Aucklanders suffering from eating disorders.

Currently no inpatient facilities exist within the Auckland region, unlike Wellington and Canterbury, which have small units that can house patients for long-term treatment.

But that may change, with a proposal for a regional service provided by Auckland District Health Board, with funding from Waitemata and Counties-Manukau being considered by the Ministry of Health.

In the meantime, some patients are sent to Sydney for 24-hour care over several months, at a cost of around $67,000.

Eating Disorder Association of New Zealand spokesman Peter Jeffries says while the treatment provided in Sydney is "fantastic" for the patients, it’s not an ideal situation for families.

"It splits the family up. Somebody has to go over and support them," he says.

ADHB eating disorder services manager Adele Wakeham says few patients are sent to Sydney because it doesn't suit all families.

Mr Jeffries, who has a family member with an eating disorder, says day-stay treatment provided at the Greenlane Clinical Centre is effective.

But he thinks it’s unacceptable that some patients have to wait several months to be seen.

"Every week that goes past that they're not getting the service, they start going downhill."

Ms Wakeham says there are two categories of treatment at the clinic, which treated 244 people during the 2007-2008 financial year.

One programme cares for patients with milder eating disorders and has no waiting list.

Many of these cases involve bulimia, which is often treated with group therapy.

The more intensive programme mainly treats anorexic teenage patients, where there is a longer wait.

"Waiting lists depend on case loads. Managing very intensive cases takes up resources," Ms Wakeham says.

Ms Wakeham says she would like to see a fully
resourced day programme and separate residential care for adolescents and adults.

Currently she has 18.8 full-time equivalent staff.

The mental health blueprint released by the Mental Health Commission in 1998 suggested 34 full-time equivalent staff would be ideal.

But because funding includes money from Waitemata and Counties Manukau DHBs it is more complex.

"It’s always more difficult when trying to get consensus from several organisations rather than just one," Ms Wakeham says.

Patients with severe eating disorders can face a range of treatments including therapy, meal supervision and sessions with a nutritionist.

Auckland District Health Board chairman Pat Snedden told EDANZ at the board’s June meeting that they are committed to
increasing services, but other boards need to contribute.

Waitemata board communications manager Bryony Hilless says improving
eating disorders services could include an inpatient facility.

Counties Manukau board acting chief funding and planning officer Sam Cliffe says they are keen to see inpatient services for young people introduced.

The New Zealand Mental Health Survey published in 2006 indicates 1.7 percent of people 16 years and over will suffer from anorexia or bulimia at some point during their lives.

- © Fairfax NZ News