Closed. The boat sank, the sharks won.

It took 4 days for this teenager to been seen by a psychiatrist.

Lauren Martin was admitted to the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald last Thursday and weighs just four stone.

I’m not going to go into the patriarchal contribution to anorexia. "The cause of anorexia nervosa is unknown." yeah right. Nothing to do with skinny models, Lads mags or the media then….

But that is another rant. This one is about delays in treatment, or incorrect treatment. Lauren Martin was admitted on a Friday, weighing just 4 stone and in need of asessment and treatment. Her family were asured someone would see her on Saturday morning. They didn’t. Then they were told the psychiatric team don’t work on weekends.

Huh? DON’T WORK ON WEEKENDS?  Well, why the hell not? People don’t get sick on weekends? People don’t have psychotic episodes on weekends? Don’t get depressed on weekends?

Anyway, it took until Tuesday for her to be seen. Then because she is classed as an adult at 17 the doctors won’t intervene to make her eat or tube feed her.

Iris Robinson, the family’s MP said:

"Unfortunately Lauren is only one of many such young people," she said.

"One Friday three weeks ago I had three different families coming in with children who were presenting with anorexia - one young girl of 15 who had attempted suicide five times - suicide notes everything - really to try to take her life.

I know people locally here who have had problems accessing mental health services.  It sucks. Mental illness is just that, an illness. With Anorexia, as with other eating disorders, the link here says quite clearly:

Anorexia nervosa is a potentially life-threatening illness, and should be treated as soon as possible. Sufferers should seek help, or be encouraged to do so.

Lauren and her family sought that help, they actively sought medical treatment. They were failed by the hospital.

I wish Lauren all the best and hope that she makes a full recovery. I’ll be looking out for news if it’s reported.  

Paul McCartney accused of violent abuse.

Sir Paul McCartney has said he will "vigorously" contest allegations that he violently abused Heather Mills during their four-year marriage.

 Heather Mills-McCartney alleges:

that the former Beatle subjected his wife to violent attacks, including one incident in which her arm was cut with a broken wine glass.

He has accused her of theft, of 3 bottles of cleaning products from one of his homes. Divorce is often messy and this one is getting nasty. It seems to have started with a simple parting of the ways. In May they said:

Announcing their separation in May, the couple said they had "found it increasingly difficult to maintain a normal relationship with constant intrusion into our private lives".

Now there are allegations of abuse being flung. Is it true? Only the McCartneys know. I find it hard to believe she would accuse him of abuse if nothing happened.