This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/feb/22/anorexia-death-mother-hospital-reform

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Anorexia death leads mother to call for hospital reform Anorexia death leads mother to call for hospital reform
(7 months later)
The mother of a teenage girl who died from anorexia has called for hospitals to change the way they treat young people as they become adults.The mother of a teenage girl who died from anorexia has called for hospitals to change the way they treat young people as they become adults.
Vickie Townsend's daughter, Laura Willmott, died from complications caused by the eating disorder. Townsend told an inquest that as the former public schoolgirl approached her 18th birthday, medical staff stopped informing her of her daughter's progress.Vickie Townsend's daughter, Laura Willmott, died from complications caused by the eating disorder. Townsend told an inquest that as the former public schoolgirl approached her 18th birthday, medical staff stopped informing her of her daughter's progress.
Avon coroners' court heard that Willmott, first diagnosed with anorexia at 13, succumbed to the condition in December 2011 a week after suffering a cardiac arrest while being treated in hospital.Avon coroners' court heard that Willmott, first diagnosed with anorexia at 13, succumbed to the condition in December 2011 a week after suffering a cardiac arrest while being treated in hospital.
She had been discharged from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) shortly before turning 18 the previous February because she no longer wanted help and was missing appointments. By 28 October she was in such poor health she was admitted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, but was discharged on 8 November with a feeding plan to follow at home, against her mother's wishes.She had been discharged from child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) shortly before turning 18 the previous February because she no longer wanted help and was missing appointments. By 28 October she was in such poor health she was admitted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, but was discharged on 8 November with a feeding plan to follow at home, against her mother's wishes.
She was readmitted on 23 November after a meeting with experts in eating disorders but on 12 December she had a heart attack which led to a hypoxic brain injury, from which she never recovered.She was readmitted on 23 November after a meeting with experts in eating disorders but on 12 December she had a heart attack which led to a hypoxic brain injury, from which she never recovered.
Townsend, a hospital nurse, said her daughter's notes from when she was treated by CAMHS were not readily available to hospital staff and that she had been clearly mentally unfit to be discharged.Townsend, a hospital nurse, said her daughter's notes from when she was treated by CAMHS were not readily available to hospital staff and that she had been clearly mentally unfit to be discharged.
"I want to make it absolutely clear that I am not levelling blame at anyone," she told the inquest at Flax Bourton, near Bristol, where the family lived. "What I was terribly concerned about then and what I am equally concerned about now is the fact that it seemed to have been assumed that as Laura approached her 18th birthday that a) it was no longer appropriate for me to be copied into reports of her treatment and to be notified of missed appointments, ie evidence of her disengagement, and b) she was in a fit mental state then and immediately after she reached 18 to make decisions to whether she should engage with treatment at all."I want to make it absolutely clear that I am not levelling blame at anyone," she told the inquest at Flax Bourton, near Bristol, where the family lived. "What I was terribly concerned about then and what I am equally concerned about now is the fact that it seemed to have been assumed that as Laura approached her 18th birthday that a) it was no longer appropriate for me to be copied into reports of her treatment and to be notified of missed appointments, ie evidence of her disengagement, and b) she was in a fit mental state then and immediately after she reached 18 to make decisions to whether she should engage with treatment at all.
"I strongly believe there is a gap in the provision of proper treatment here. It was obvious from Laura's history and her therapy, that although she'd made considerable progress in tackling her anorexia … she was by no means free of the condition. It was also obvious from her own acknowledgements and her refusal to be open-handed about measuring her progress that Laura was being deceitful to the professionals as well as to us. I struggled to see how Laura was any different at 17 years and 364 days than at 18 years and one day.""I strongly believe there is a gap in the provision of proper treatment here. It was obvious from Laura's history and her therapy, that although she'd made considerable progress in tackling her anorexia … she was by no means free of the condition. It was also obvious from her own acknowledgements and her refusal to be open-handed about measuring her progress that Laura was being deceitful to the professionals as well as to us. I struggled to see how Laura was any different at 17 years and 364 days than at 18 years and one day."
Terence Moore, assistant deputy coroner, recorded a narrative verdict and said he would be writing to health authorities urging them to consider allowing patients with eating disorders to stay in hospital longer if it was felt it would aid recovery.Terence Moore, assistant deputy coroner, recorded a narrative verdict and said he would be writing to health authorities urging them to consider allowing patients with eating disorders to stay in hospital longer if it was felt it would aid recovery.
He also said he wanted a summary of the medical history of any patient suffering from a psychiatric disorder made available to any hospital treating that person.He also said he wanted a summary of the medical history of any patient suffering from a psychiatric disorder made available to any hospital treating that person.
Melanie Lockett, a consultant gastroenterologistat Frenchay, told the inquest there was a change in the trust's policy regarding eating disorder patients. "We were instructed that we had to … we used to keep patients longer than medically required," she said. "The rationale for that was to give them a buffer so that when they went home they would not end up in crisis so very quickly. We applied for funding from the PCT for this service in 2009/10 and it was turned down. Therefore it was no longer offered. The PCT would not fund that. It was a PCT decision."Melanie Lockett, a consultant gastroenterologistat Frenchay, told the inquest there was a change in the trust's policy regarding eating disorder patients. "We were instructed that we had to … we used to keep patients longer than medically required," she said. "The rationale for that was to give them a buffer so that when they went home they would not end up in crisis so very quickly. We applied for funding from the PCT for this service in 2009/10 and it was turned down. Therefore it was no longer offered. The PCT would not fund that. It was a PCT decision."
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.