Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 305: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if his Department plans to launch a campaign on the dangers of eating disorders and promote healthy eating (details supplied). [14176/04]

Tim O'Malley (Limerick East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

A new food and nutrition strategy is being drafted in my Department. It will build on the four key objectives set out under Eating Well, the National Health Promotion Strategy 2000-2005.

Children have been identified as a priority group and guidelines on food and nutrition for pre-school and primary schools have been developed. The guidelines include criteria on developing a healthy school lunch policy and healthy pre-school meal menus. At present they are being implemented in all health board areas with support from teachers, health promotion teams, social and personal health education co-ordinators, the National Children' Nurseries Association and pre-school inspectors.

Officials of my Department have worked with those of the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to review the school meals scheme for designated disadvantaged schools. They recommended healthy food choices for breakfast clubs, lunches and after-school clubs.

Responsibility for the management and treatment of a person with eating disorders rests with the individual patient's clinician. Persons presenting with the disorders are generally treated through the psychiatric services of their local health board. Outpatient psychiatric services are provided from a network of hospitals, health centres, day hospitals and day centres. Inpatient treatment is provided in the local acute psychiatric unit or hospital. Beds are allocated on the basis of patient need at any particular time.

The working group on child and adolescent psychiatry will prepare a report on services for people with eating disorders and how they can be developed in the short, medium and long-term. The group has invited submissions from interested parties.