John Paul O'Shea
Ceist:380. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Health her plans in place to provide designated beds for adults with eating disorders in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72761/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 17 December 2025
Ceisteanna (380)
Freagraí scríofa
The National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders has progressed really well with 14 of the 16 teams envisaged by the Model of Care now funded. Most teams are fully operational and seeing people with ED every day, including in Co. Cork; other teams are at different stages of recruitment and 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.
While a small number of people benefit from 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.
On the issue of inpatient capacity, a key priority for me is ensuring bed capacity is in place for people requiring inpatient treatment for eating disorders. With that objective in mind, I requested the HSE to conduct a review to identify the appropriate level of adult bed capacity needed for people requiring inpatient treatment for an eating disorder. The HSE have now completed a report on inpatient eating bed disorder bed capacity required for the future, and this report remains under consideration by the Department of Health. This involves engagement between my Department and the HSE how best to operationalise the eating disorder bed plan capacity report in a sustainable way, taking account of demographic and wider geographical needs; and to ensure equity of access, and the delivery of safe, evidence-based treatment for adults with eating disorders. I will be making an announcement on this issue in due course.