At the reception, patients up to the age of 25 are cared for and the waiting times are from six months up to two years.

Now about 90 people are in line.

From 2019 to 2021, the number of referrals has doubled, from 244 to 485.

According to Anne-Line Solberg, waiting times in the rest of the region are somewhat lower, from three months to one and a half years.

- It is important to say that we have contact with everyone and follow up in different ways.

The nurses meet them and they receive various interventions during the waiting period, says Anne-Line Solberg.

Appeals for help

At the Mandometer Clinic in Alingsås, incoming referrals have increased by 30 percent over the past year, according to operations manager Katarina Nygård.

She says that every week she receives phone calls from desperate parents and relatives who appeal for help.

- There are very long waiting times and something that I obviously think is a big problem.

These patients need care quickly so as not to deteriorate, says Katarina Nygård.

Politicians are aware of the problem

She says that there are not enough treatment places in outpatient or inpatient care in a region as large as Västra Götaland.

There are now 16 places in inpatient care for eating disorders.

- We have this under surveillance and look at the need.

We are also looking at where we should expand care places, so we are aware of the problem, says Madeleine Jonsson (MP), vice chairman of the National Board of Health and Medical Care.

Hallengren wants national guidelines

Minister of Social Affairs Lena Hallengren (S) has also been involved in the issue.

- Now we are taking the next step in the development of eating disorder care through national guidelines.

This is how we ensure equal and accessible care for eating disorders throughout Sweden, she says in a press release in December 2021.

In the clip, you hear the operations manager Katarina Nygård at the Mandometer Clinic in Alingsås tell what she thinks politicians need to do to secure eating disorder care.

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Hear Katarina Nygård at the Mandometer Clinic in Alingsås tell what she thinks politicians need to do to secure eating disorder care.

Photo: SVT