Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1399. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the cost barriers that exist for those who are looking for help with an eating disorder; if he will ensure that support is made easily accessible for all those who need it, not just those who can afford it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46677/24]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Model of Care for the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders (NCP-ED) launched in 2018, as Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, I have prioritised the roll out of the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders (NCP-ED) since taking up office in July 2020.

The NCP-ED is being implemented across the country by multidisciplinary teams on a phased basis. There are now eleven teams in place: six Adult teams and five Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) teams. Six new teams started in 2023, and in May 2024, I announced the establishment of a new team for CHO7, which will cover the area of Kildare/West Wicklow, Dublin West, Dublin South City and Dublin South West. This will bring the total number of eating disorder teams nationally to twelve.

There are approximately 100 posts funded under the National Clinical Programme. Over 80 eating disorder Clinicians, including 10 Consultant Psychiatrists, are now treating people with eating disorders.

Dedicated investment in eating disorders continues, and last year the Health Service Executive (HSE) spent €8.1m on eating disorder services under the Clinical Programme. I am firmly committed to enhancing specialist services for eating disorders, including improved access and shorter waiting lists.

The HSE have informed that since 2019, the number of referrals to community specialist eating disorders teams has grown year-on-year, peaking during COVID-19 in 2021. In 2022, there was a slight decrease in the number of referrals. However, an upward trend was again reported in the latter part of 2023. This increase is in part due to increased availability of services with the number of teams delivering services augmented, and access to suitable treatment rooms coming on stream for some teams.

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 66 HSE acute in-patient mental health approved centres nationally. 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. At present, there is a waiting list of three for young people to access these dedicated eating disorder beds.

Following increases in population and in demand for services, a review of the Model of Care will be undertaken and the HSE have advised the Department that preliminary work has commenced on the scoping of the review. The outcomes of this review will inform the future development of teams and eating disorder teams’ staffing requirements etc. from 2025 onwards.

The review will be undertaken by the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders, in collaboration with BodyWhys, the partner organisation to the Programme, and other eating disorder stakeholders. It will be informed by consultation and engagement with service users.

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.

As part of my continued drive to improve eating disorder services, I recently announced increased funding under Budget 2025 for two additional adult eating disorder teams. This will bring the total number of eating disorder teams nationally to 14 out the 16 teams envisaged under the Model of Care. Further details regarding the further roll out of these two teams is a matter for discussion between the Department and the HSE in order to best meet demand for Eating Disorder Services.

I remains firmly committed to enhancing specialist services for eating disorders, including improved access and shorter waiting lists.