Cork family protest over lack of funds for UK anorexia care
The family has called on the HSE to ensure that the teenager can be transferred to a specialist treatment facility in London.
In recent weeks, she has been receiving treatment in Cork University Hospital, but her family fear that she could be discharged in the near future.
Her case was highlighted some weeks ago on The Neil Prendeville Show on Red FM, and the girl’s mother told how her daughter’s weight had dropped to just 40kg.
She has been medically stabilised on a number of occasions since her condition became acute over the past year, but the girl’s mother said neither the HSE nor the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services had provided a suitable response to requests for funding for specialist care overseas.
The family had a meeting with HSE officials on Thursday afternoon, but no agreement has yet been reached.
A HSE spokeswoman said: “Once a clinical decision is taken on further treatment in a specialist centre, the necessary funding will be provided. The referral of a patient to a specialist centre will always be made in the best interest of the patient.
“All available treatment options, either in this country or abroad and the associated time frames are being explored to determine the best option for this patient.”
