Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 April 2025
265. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Health her plans to expand adult-specific eating disorder treatment centres in regional areas outside of Dublin; the proposed timeline for such developments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21664/25]
View answerI propose to take Question Nos 265 and 262 together.
Eating disorders are complex, individual, and can be one of the most serious mental health illnesses.
The National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders has progressed well with 14 of the 16 teams envisaged by the Model of Care now funded. Most teams are fully operational and seeing people with eating disorders every day; other teams are at different stages of recruitment or preparation for being operational. The most effective treatment setting for eating disorders is in the community, and the roll out of community teams under the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders continues apace; by the end of this year 14 teams out of the 16 envisaged in the Model of Care will be in place.
While a small number of people require inpatient treatment, research shows the most effective treatment setting for eating disorders is in the community. The HSE works hard to meet the needs of people with eating disorders in the setting most appropriate to their needs.
Access to services is increasing, with twice as many assessments conducted in 2023 compared to 2022 (449 vs 227). 2024 data for the Programme will be available in the coming weeks. Approximately 100 dedicated Eating Disorder clinicians from the National Clinical Programme are working on teams across the country. Enhancement for specialist mental health services such as eating disorders is a key priority for the Minister, the Government as a whole, and the HSE.
With regard to adult inpatient services, adults who have an eating disorder diagnosis and require inpatient care can be referred to any of the HSE’s acute inpatient mental health approved centres around the country. The HSE also funds beds within private hospitals with dedicated eating disorder programmes for adults where recommended by an adult psychiatrist. One Adult Eating Disorder Team also provides care to its catchment area with 3 specialist eating disorder beds in St Vincent's University Hospital.
A review of bed capacity across all mental health facilities -including adult eating disorder beds - has taken place and is under consideration by the HSE. This is informing work by the NCP ED on a plan for expanded specialist adult inpatient capacity for eating disorders, and this will be provided to me in June.
Government also acknowledges the important work on advocacy, peer supports and other services that groups such as CARED and BodyWhys provide.
Following increased demand for services and the recent preliminary census 2022 data showing an overall increase in population, a review of the Model of Care is planned. The outcomes of this review will inform the further development of eating disorder services into the future.
