Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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169. To ask the Minister for Health if she accepts that adult-specific services for eating disorders remain significantly under-resourced and overly centralised in Dublin; the rationale for limiting specialist inpatient treatment to a small number of beds in one hospital; the action her Department will take to expand adult eating disorder services, both inpatient and community-based, in regional areas; and if she will provide a clear timeline for the delivery of all 16 multidisciplinary teams under the national model of care. [24158/25]

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

The National Clinical Programme on Eating Disorders has progressed really 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, research shows the most effective treatment setting for eating disorders is in the community. The HSE works hard to meet the needs of people with eating disorders in the setting most appropriate to their needs.

Access to services is increasing, with 25% more 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. Enhancement for specialist mental health services such as eating disorders is a key priority for me, the Government as a whole, and the HSE.

Adults who have an eating disorder diagnosis and require inpatient care can be referred to any of the HSE’s acute inpatient mental health approved centres around the country. The HSE funds beds within private hospitals with dedicated eating disorder programmes for adults where recommended by an adult psychiatrist. One Adult Eating Disorder Team also provides care to its catchment area with 3 specialist eating disorder beds in St Vincent's University Hospital.

A review of the Model of Care for Eating Disorders is currently being planned by the HSE and will be carried out over a number of phases on an incremental basis.

The first phase of the review of the Model of Care concerns a review of adult bed capacity for specialist eating disorders beds which is currently underway. This includes a review of data on bed usage in HSE acute hospital, HSE approved centres, private placements and treatment aboard. The HSE will make recommendations for future plans regarding number and locations of adult eating disorders beds. I expect this plan to be provided to me by the end of June 2025.

Following increased demand for services and the recent preliminary census 2022 data showing an overall increase in population, the second phase will involve evaluating the Eating Disorder teams , and reviewing service level trends since the publication of the Model of Care. The outcomes of this review will inform the eating disorder teams staffing requirements from 2025 onwards.

The Government also acknowledges the important work on advocacy, peer supports and other services that groups such as CARED and BodyWhys provide.

Eating disorders affect a relatively young section of the population. Younger people can access 20 dedicated eating disorder beds across the four 4 CAMHS in patient units.

In relation to the two Eating Disorder teams for which I secured funding as Minister under Budget 2025, I understand the HSE are working on recruitment and sourcing physical locations for both the CAMHS ED team in the Mid West , and the adult Eating Disorder team planned in the Midlands, with a view to being operational by the end of this year. This will make a big difference to the treatment of people experiencing eating disorders , and of course their families and friends as well.

Finally, I hope to complete final two Eating Disorder teams envisaged under the Model of Care as soon as possible. However, it must be noted that this is subject to the Annual Estimate process.