Orange residents with severe eating disorders will have improved access to care following a funding announcement from the federal government.
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Patients with the serious psychiatric conditions including anorexia and bulimia will be able to access up to 40 subsidised psychological services and 20 dietetic services each year from November 2019, a significant increase from the current 10 psychology sessions and five dietician sessions.
Health in Mind Orange’s Clinical Psychologist Belinda Harris welcomed the announcement, calling the situation for people seeking treatment for an eating disorder in Orange as “really sad at the moment”.
A lot of ED [eating disorders] can be quite debilitating. When it’s severe people often can’t work and they can end up on disability pensions
- Belinda Harris
Dr Harris said while one of the major hurdles for patients was a lack of trained professionals in the region – with new patients currently waiting up to four months to see her – the other big deterrent was the cost of the visits.
“The evidence suggests 20-40 private treatment sessions [are required], which is often unattainable for people,” she said.
Dr Harris said while eating disorders are prevalent in all communities, it is often only those on higher incomes or with family support who present for treatment.
“A lot of ED can be quite debilitating. When it’s severe people often can’t work and they can end up on disability pensions,” she said.
According to the Western NSW Local Health District there were three psychologists trained in the treatment of adults with eating disorders in Orange in the past 12 months, including Dr Harris.
A one-hour session with one of the specialists from Prince Street Psychologists, Psychological Solutions or Health in Mind costs around $200, with Medicare rebating $124.50.
Dr Harris said the advantage of the new scheme was patients would make more appointments, which will allow them to reach a maximum spend threshold in the 12 months and receive further rebates.
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headspace Orange’s Clinical Lead Emily Smith said the youth service was among the Orange organisations seeing an increase in young people struggling with disordered eating.
Ms Smith said treatments which have been shown to be the most effective are intensive and long term, which has often impacted on young people accessing them.
“Medicare’s decision to increase funding and the number of sessions available for people experiencing eating disorders will increase headspace’s capacity to provide evidence informed and effective treatments in a timely manner,” she said.
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