I was an eating disorder inpatient for 2 weeks at Box Hill Hospital earlier in the year. I have a basic understanding of psychology and was not impressed with the treatment. I sent an email with concerns, budget friendly suggestions and complements to staff (which was ignored 3 times over a span of a few months), here is a shortened list of complaints it contained:
No psychological help:
Despite having a psychiatrist pop in to see me sometimes I believe I received absolutely no psychological care beyond being told I need to start with antidepressants (no further explanation and I also received no information on side effects, or contra-medications upon discharge). It actually postponed the starting of outpatient therapy. In my opinion, encouragement to eat was more posed as a threat. Eat or else (bolus, NG tube, loss of privacy privileges, continue to be bed bound, won't leave hospital).
Nurses:
I feel that my observations were taken incorrectly on countless occasions which meant my charts showed inconsistencies in recovery. I believe there was inconsistency with following rules and what rules existed (they either forgot to enforce some or made some up). Some would constantly remind me how long I had left to eat (I never sat there just staring at the food) as if I was being a burden on their work day. A nurse decided to leave the room while I was eating and then took me by surprise by spontaneously patting me down, checking in my bed and personal belongings for food she believed I had hidden.
Meals:
Meals were significantly late or forgotten. Hot meals arrived cold, sauces with skin and congealed, ice-cream melted, cheese room temperature and sweated inside the package, stale bread, beans so dry they *clink* when dropped on the plate. Food is generally unappetising. Wrong meal plan was given and I was served 1 of my 3 dislikes and told I still had to consume it (despite the rules stating something different).
Environment:
Lights on, pings, loud social conversations and giggles by nurses at night. Impossible to sleep. Placed with faecal incontinent patients. I got in trouble for sitting outside my room when the smell was unbearable causing extreme nausea.
I left hospital with worsened anxiety, developing symptoms of major depressive disorder and a worse relationship with food.
"My eating disorder experience"
About: Box Hill Hospital Box Hill Hospital Box Hill 3128
Posted by foxtrotpj48 (as ),
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