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I saw an amazing transformation in my friend thanks to Denbr...

Posted By Sarah B

"I saw an amazing transformation in my friend thanks to Denbridge House"

About: South London And Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust / Eating disorders

(as a friend),

I have recently heard that Denbridge House is due to close at the end of March, this is a huge concern to me. My best friend was a patient there for nineteen months and it completely turned her life around. I visited her in several different hospitals before she went to Denbridge House and it was just heartbreaking everytime I saw her there, as these places were just not helping her at all.

During the time she spent at Denbridge House I saw an amazing transformation in her, the care they provide there is one of a kind and that proves the necessity of it. She went on from there with a completely different attitude and a new found confidence, leading her to get a good job, her own flat and a wonderful husband and I am so thankful to all at Denbridge House who helped her get to where she is today.

There are so many others who desperately need the same chance, I really hope they will be able to get it and that something will be done to prevent this closure.

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Responses

Response from Steve Davidson, Service Director, Mood, Anxiety and Personality Clinical Academic Group and Psychological Medicine Clinical Academic Group, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust 14 years ago
We are preparing to make a change
Steve Davidson
Service Director, Mood, Anxiety and Personality Clinical Academic Group and Psychological Medicine Clinical Academic Group,
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 02/02/2011 at 10:06
Published on Care Opinion on 03/02/2011 at 00:00

Dear Sarah B

Thank you for your concern about the closure of Denbridge House and for sharing your experiences with us. I am really pleased that your friend benefited from their time in this service.

I understand your concerns and thought an explanation of our reasons for closing Denbridge House might help to reassure you that we have come to this decision for the best of reasons. I also think it is important that you know about our plans to replace the service with a new rehabilitation treatment service in Beckenham.

As I am sure you know, without effective early treatment for anorexia nervosa, such as the work with families developed at the Maudsley Hospital, a proportion of people go on to develop a severe and enduring illness. This group of people and their families can become isolated and excluded from a productive role in society with a high level of medical disability and use of services.

For this reason we are opening a new service that will see patients and families requiring rehabilitation ‘stepped down’ gradually so they spend fewer days in care and are better able to live independently, build strong relationships and play an active role in society. This approach to the treatment of anorexia nervosa has been shown to be very effective and has been developed using the best available evidence. The service has also been developed by working closely with patients and families with experience of anorexia nervosa and with the charity BEAT.

To fund the new service we have taken the difficult decision to close Denbridge House. Robust alternative arrangements will be in place before the few remaining patients leave Denbridge House and the expertise of the current staff team will be transferred to the new service.

Now more than ever, we have to make the best use of the resources available to us. However, we remain committed to providing treatments that evidence shows work best for our patients.

If you would like to learn more about the treatment model to be used in the new rehabilitation treatment service please please contact Jane Hannon at (jane.hannon@slam.nhs.uk) and Jane will send you more information and you can have further discussion with her if necessary.

Best Wishes

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