11-08-2025
Dancer suffering from anorexia fundraising for treatment
Olivia-May Ashton, aged 29, was diagnosed with atypical anorexia in 2016 - while she was training at a dance school in London.
A decade on, and Olivia, from Buckley, says Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) "continues to deny me of the treatment I need".
"I left London, had to move home, due to needing more support - and wasn't able to continue my dance career," she said.
"My care was meant to be transferred to my local eating disorder community team. But it wasn't, I was placed in my local community mental health team and left with no specialist treatment and a battle to get any support.
"They refused to believe I had an eating disorder, even though I was formally diagnosed at the Maudsley Psychiatric Hospital in London."
Olivia, who has autism, said over the past five years she has been "in and out" of an acute psychiatric hospital.
"I'd have crisis episodes, burnouts, and meltdowns", she said. "Which we now understand is my autism and ADHD, which my community team never picked up on.
"I had a private assessment and was formally diagnosed. I have had multiple specialist eating disorder assessments recommending specific treatment for my needs, which continues to be unmet and ignored by BCUHB.
"The services which are meant to provide help and support, have ultimately made my mental health and life worse.
"I have now been left with no choice other than to try and fund some private treatment, but this is going to come at a huge cost. It shouldn't be a postcode lottery for people to access the required services, but this is the reality."
Olivia has set up a GoFundMe page to fund treatment at the ABBI eating disorders clinic in Greater Manchester which offers group and one-to-one therapy, and meal support.
"It's like being in hospital, without the overnight stay, and more therapeutic," she said.
Olivia May-Ashton pictured with her dog during a previous hospital admission. (Image: Olivia May-Ashton) Olivia has so far raised just over £500. Her page can be accessed via It costs £250 to attend the centre, and Olivia would be attending twice a week.
After she requested access to the ABBI facility through the NHS, BCUHB told her that the Welsh NHS does not commission day programme services for eating disorders. The health board said it was also deemed to be the "best course of action", and instead suggested Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
"I've already had DBT and it didn't work for me", Olivia said.
"I can't help but feel neglected by NHS adult mental health services, and hope that in the future no one else has to go through what I have been through, and continue to go through on a daily basis."
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Olivia has submitted a formal complaint to BCUHB - which has confirmed it is looking into.
Teresa Owen, BCUHB's executive director of Allied Health Professions and Health Science, said: 'We are sorry to hear that Miss Ashton is unhappy with the care she has received.
"We can confirm we have received her concern this week and will be responding to her directly.'
