Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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15. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on treatment for adults with eating disorders; how it was envisaged that 20 new beds would be provided with no new additional funding; if he is aware of the issues raised in a documentary (details supplied) that aired on 25 April 2024; how many children are on a waiting list for treatment for an eating disorder in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024 in tabular form; how he plans to address these issues; how he plans to increase treatment services for children and adults with eating disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19725/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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As you are aware, eating disorders are very complex, very individual and can be one of the most serious mental health illnesses.

Historically there has been a lack of publicly funded services for people with eating disorders in Ireland. This is now changing, with the Model of Care for the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders launched in 2018. Since I have come to Office in July 2020, I have prioritised the roll out of the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders.

90% of eating disorder services are now delivered within the community which research shows is the most effective treatment. It is recognised that a small number of people, mainly with restrictive eating disorders such as anorexia, will require inpatient care for short periods for stabilisation and refeeding.

The National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders is being implemented across the country by multidisciplinary teams on a phased basis. There are now 11 teams in place: 6 Adult and 5 CAMHS teams. It takes 12-18 months to set up a multi-disciplinary team, led by a Consultant Psychiatrist. While funding to roll out teams has been in place for several years, recruitment during the COVID-19 pandemic was very challenging. Six new teams started in 2023. There are now 100 people working across eating disorder teams, including 80 eating disorder Clinicians with 10 Consultant Psychiatrists. It is my stated intention to continue to deliver expanded services for people with eating disorders, through reaching the planned 16 specialist teams. One additional team of specialist eating disorder Clinicians has been funded under Budget 2024.

In 2023, 385 people had an eating disorder diagnosis. It is important to note that in the same year, 343 people with an eating disorder diagnosis were discharged from specialist services back to their GP.

The HSE works hard to meet the needs of people with eating disorders in the setting most appropriate to their needs, whether that be community eating disorder teams, beds in the public system, specialist beds from private providers (funded by the HSE) or under the Treatment Abroad Scheme. Since 2020, 14 people have availed of the Treatment Abroad Scheme.

Adults who have an eating disorder diagnosis and require inpatient care can be referred to any of the HSE’s 66 acute in-patient mental health approved centres around the country. I do accept that not all of these approved centres may have the specialist expertise available and in situ as required for all cases. New pathways have been developed between the 6 specialist Adult eating disorder teams and the relevant approved centres in their particular area to provide liaison supports.

Eating disorders affect a relatively young section of the population, with over two-thirds of referrals to the National Clinical Programme last year involving young people under 18. There are currently 20 dedicated eating disorder beds across the four 4 CAMHS in-patient units. As of today, 25% of these beds were unoccupied.

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 for Eating Disorders is planned during 2024. The outcome of this review will inform the eating disorder teams’ staffing requirements from 2025 onwards. In addition, 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. I am of the opinion that there has to be a geographical focus on adult eating disorder beds.

A dedicated investment in eating disorders continues, and last year the HSE spent €8.1m on eating disorder services, with a further €4.5m spent on specialist treatment through the Treatment Abroad Scheme. In addition, €750,000 has been allocated since 2021 by the Department of Health Women’s Health Fund to provide for consultant medical/paediatric and hospital dietitian sessions. This core funding is in place for each year.

I want to reassure you that I remain firmly committed to enhancing specialist services for eating disorders, including improved access and shorter waiting lists.

In relation to your enquiry regarding details of children historically on waiting lists for Eating Disorders, the HSE have advised it does not have an ICT system which can track this information on waiting lists numbers within Eating Disorder Teams. The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE to improve data collection across the health system, including within mental health services.