It started with a tweet to my local MP during Eating Disorders Awareness Week in March, urging him to think about the impact of eating disorders in his constituency, my home town.
The tweets and letters resulted in a meeting with Jeremy Lefroy back in April to arm him with the facts, figures, reality and seriousness of eating disorders, in a hope that he'll be able to raise HIS voice in future parliamentary debates. I'm determined that with his help, we can keep it on the Government's agenda and he can support the work I want to do here in Stafford.
Sharing my experience obviously turned to talking about the care I'm currently getting at South Staffordshire and Shropshire NHS Healthcare Foundation Trust's specialist eating disorder service, The Kinver Unit in Stafford. As well as the care I've NOT had elsewhere. But I wanted him to meet my team and see it for himself.
That's what happened today.
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| From L-R; Jennie Collier, Jeremy Lefroy MP, Dr Rob Dennis, Me and Service Manager, Fiona Preston. |
Jeremy Lefroy and I met with Fiona Preston, Service Manager (who just happens to be my dietician too!) Kim Moore, Nurse Consultant, Dr Rob Dennis, Consultant Psychiatrist and Jennie Collier, the Head of Children's and Specialist Services Directorate.
It was a chance for introductions, to tell Jeremy more about eating disorders in general and for him to get a taste of what the service does and who it helps. But also who CAN'T get support and who the service can't reach. The gaps, the issues, the funding....and we know health and hospitals are hot topics in Stafford right now.
We spoke about eating disorders, treatment, services, commissioning groups, prevention, education and how this service has developed and how it can improve. All starting points for the future. Mr Lefroy saw first hand the kitchens, art rooms, garden, bedrooms and dining room playing a part in turning round the lives of his constituents suffering with such destructive mental illnesses.
We spoke about eating disorders, treatment, services, commissioning groups, prevention, education and how this service has developed and how it can improve. All starting points for the future. Mr Lefroy saw first hand the kitchens, art rooms, garden, bedrooms and dining room playing a part in turning round the lives of his constituents suffering with such destructive mental illnesses.
From the point of view from someone who's fighting back at anorexia, I want to make it clear that I think more awareness and education is needed to catch the illness sooner and to help prevent it consuming people like it did me, and so many others.
Yes, today he saw what a successful, established eating disorder service looks like and how it works and the challenges it faces, but wouldn't it be nice if it was needed less?
There are so many things tackle when it comes to eating disorders, it's overwhelming to think of the mountains left to climb to help save lives and slash the stigma. But I figure using my voice to talk about the hills I'd like to take on first was a good place to start. This is just one of them.
So, watch this space, because I'm not stopping this conversation any time soon...
If you are worried about eating disorders or need to find a service near you, please contact UK eating disorders charity B-EAT ASAP.
