Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the services provided for persons with eating disorders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15449/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Persons presenting with eating disorders are generally treated through the local mental health services. Outpatient psychiatric services are provided from a network of hospitals, health centres, day hospitals and day centres. Where inpatient treatment is deemed necessary, it is provided in the local acute psychiatric unit or hospital, beds being allocated on the basis of patient need at any particular time.

The expert group on mental health policy is currently preparing a national policy framework for the further modernisation of the mental health services, updating the 1984 policy document, Planning for the Future. The expert group has a number of sub-groups looking at specialist issues in mental health services, including eating disorders. The expert group on mental health policy is expected to report later this year.