It may be depressing, it may be shocking but, to be honest, it came as no surprise to me: inpatient hospital admissions in England for eating disorders have increased by 84% in the last five years, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Children and young people are the worst affected, with a 90% jump, but adults have also seen a 79% increase in admissions over the same time. These are figures that should shame us – and spur action.
An inpatient admission should be an absolute last resort. It involves 24/7 monitoring and weighing, being observed eating timed meals and snacks. Some patients will arrive voluntarily, others will be there because they have been sectioned. It should be the end of the line treatment when a patient’s life is seriously at risk. The huge rise in admissions means that people are suffering alone without support for such a long time that their lives are at risk before anyone intervenes. That cannot be right.
