Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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795. To ask the Minister for Health if he will follow through on the promise made by the former Minister for Health to provide 20 hospital beds for people with eating disorders, given that the current allocation of three beds does not meet requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13897/25]

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

It is a key priority for myself as Minister to continue to make progress on improving eating disorder services to better meet the needs of people experiencing this condition, including supports for families and friends who are also so affected.

The National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders has progressed 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; 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; by the end of this year 14 teams out of the 16 envisaged in the Model of Care will be in place.

While a small number of people benefit from inpatient treatment, which I will address further below, research shows the most effective treatment setting for eating disorders is in the community.

Access to services is increasing, with 25% as many assessments conducted in 2024 compared to 2023 (562 vs 449). Approximately 100 dedicated Eating Disorder clinicians from the National Clinical Programme are working on teams across the country. Last year 380 people with an eating disorder diagnosis were discharged from specialist services. Enhancing specialist mental health services such as those to support people with eating disorders is a key priority for myself as Minister, the Government as a whole, and the HSE.

Eating disorders affect a relatively young section of the population, and young people up to age 18 can access 20 dedicated eating disorder beds across the four CAMHS inpatient units nationwide. The new National Children’s Hospital will further increase our CAMHS eating disorder bed capacity, with 8 additional beds as part of a CAMHS inpatient unit in the hospital.

In relation to adult beds, the HSE are currently conducting a review of adult bed capacity for specialist eating disorders beds, including a review of data on bed usage in HSE acute hospitals, HSE approved centres, private placements and treatment abroad. The HSE will make recommendations for a future plan regarding the number and locations of adult eating disorder beds. It is intended that this plan will be provided by the HSE to myself as Minister by the end of June 2025. This is an important step in ensuring that we are meeting the needs of people with eating disorders who require the support of an inpatient service.

Additionally, 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. The outcomes of this review will inform eating disorder service staffing requirements and service developments into the future.