the difference between ip and hospital care

firstly, this is a general question and does not refer to me, don't worry!!

there are two girls in my year who are currently suffering with anorexia - one has a bmi of 17.4 and has just been taken into ip, and the other has a bmi of 13 but cannot get herself placed (she's only looked at hospitals though) so why is this?!

IPs are specialized for eating disorders, but most are not equipped for extreme medical cases. It's sad to say, but at BMI 13 your friend is too much of a "medical risk" to be accepted IP. She has to get her weight and stats stabilized at a hospital (which can handle the level of medical attention she needs) before she can go to IP.

oh ok i understand now, thanks :)