– We are contacted by parents who cry for help, says Knut Olav Farbrot. He is the leader of the Education Association in Sarpsborg. They meet children who are struggling mentally, and parents who are desperate for help for their children. The leader of the Education Association in Sarpsborg, Knut Olav Farbrot, has sent a report of concern about an unjustifiably long waiting time. Photo: Heidi Gomnæs / news When one patient group is given priority, the other ends up further back in the queue. They see that eating disorders have become a priority group that fills the places at inpatient institutions in child and adolescent psychiatry in Østfold. – This means that children and young people with other serious disorders do not get the treatment they should have received. Then they remain on waiting lists for an unjustifiably long time. Has sent a message of concern Farbrot has met parents who do not know where to turn when help is not available. Both Utdanningsforbundet and Fellesorganisasjonen have sent a report of concern to Østfold Hospital, with a copy to the State Administrator. There, they express concern about what happens to the offer to those who have disorders other than eating disorders. They fear the offer will disappear. – If eating disorders are to be prioritized, it should be done with fresh funds, says Farbrot. A health lottery Tove Gundersen, Secretary General of the Council for Mental Health, says that what is happening in Østfold is also a nationwide challenge. – This is a growing problem in several places in Norway. The daily capacity is too poor for young people. They become a health lottery linked to who actually gets help, says Gundersen. Secretary General of the Council for Mental Health, Tove Gundersen, believes that today’s offer must be strengthened. Photo: Patrick da Silva Saether This year, she has received a record number of calls from child and adolescent psychiatrists who express strong concern. – The kids who come in are sicker and more than before. When they first get help, the course of treatment is much more complicated and lengthy, because they arrive late. The unions in Østfold believe that it should be investigated how the lack of day places and long waiting lists affects the services for other children and young people who are seriously ill. The hospital shares the concern At Østfold Hospital, serious eating disorders in children have taken up much of the treatment capacity, confirms the head of the department of child and adolescent psychiatry, Ragnhild Tranøy. This has led to hospitals having to make tough priorities. Ragnhild Tranøy, head of the department of child and adolescent psychiatry, shares the concern for children and young people with mental illness. Photo: Rahand Bazaz / news – We largely share the concern described in the report of concern. We have been working on this issue since last autumn, and our main effort has been to strengthen our local outpatient clinics. The government: – Very unfortunate Minister of Health and Care Services Ingvild Kjerkol (Labor Party) says that the government does not prioritize one group over others. – The specialist health service makes individual assessments based on the severity and expected benefit of the treatment. The offer has been strengthened during the pandemic, and several have received help. At the same time, waiting times have increased. That worries us. The government is now working to strengthen the offer with an escalation plan that will be presented in 2023. The goal is for children and young people who have mental challenges to receive accessible and close help. – Those who need help will get it. Then it is very unfortunate if someone who needs help experiences a long waiting time.
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Seriously ill children do not get the treatment they should have – news Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
