Woman with eating disorders and addiction was turned down by clinics as she was 'too complex', inquest told
24.11.2023 - 07:09
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A dancer and entertainer who battled eating disorders and addiction was repeatedly turned down for specialist help as she was considered 'too complex', an inquest has heard. Charlene Roberts, from Middleton, had been diagnosed with bulimia and later anorexia.
Rochdale Coroners Court heard yesterday (November 23) how she developed a 'very rare addiction' to a type of over-the-counter antihistamine, which the Manchester Evening News is not naming. She was refused 18 different placements by specialist eating disorder clinics because of her drug abuse, the inquest heard.
Ms Roberts died aged 35 on January 12, at Fairfield General Hospital, in Bury. The inquest, which could run for two weeks, is yet to hear details about how she died.
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Ms Roberts began being admitted to hospital due to eating disorders at the age of 15, the court heard. Her mum, Alison Partridge, said her daughter 'wanted to enjoy life' - but two incidents earlier in her life had affected her mental health.
Ms Roberts visited Fairfield Hospital on January 10 for a routine blood test, but was kept in due to concerns about an 'infection'. She had asked to go home to pick up her pyjamas, but it was believed this was an excuse to pick up drugs, so Ms Partridge picked up pyjamas at Asda for her instead.
She told the court she later visited her daughter's home and found 'handbags' containing the drug had been ready to pick up. Paul Partridge, Ms Roberts' brother, told the inquest his sister was 'in and out of hospital' throughout her life.
The court heard