A dedicated team to tackle eating disorders in the west of Ireland, and provide support and treatment to sufferers, must be established.
This is the view of Social Democrats Galway City East councillor, Owen Hanley, who said adequate the issue requires annual ring-fenced funding, which can then be allocated to provide support. He said any such team established can then be deployed to the community healthcare organisations.
"Eating disorders have the highest mortality and morbidity of all mental disorders," said Cllr Hanley. “Eating disorders are disproportionately present among young women and are among the psychiatric conditions most associated with mortality.”
'Shocking' situation
Cllr Hanley said it was a “shocking” situation that there were only three dedicated HSE hospital beds for people living with eating disorders; that no funding was allocated under the National Eating Disorder Treatment Plan for 2020; and that none of the €1.6 million provided in 2019 had been spent. “Those who desperately need care simply cannot get it,” he said.
'Covid-19 has put our mental health services under severe pressure. Those suffering eating disorders should not be allowed fall through the cracks'
The general manager for mental health services in the HSE, Dr Sinead Reynolds, has said that specialists saw a significant increase in referrals to eating disorders teams throughout 2020 in comparison to previous years. Paediatric and acute hospitals are reporting similar rises in acute presentations of eating disorders.
“These cases indicate there is still a significant gap between the Government’s stated intention to spend the money on services this year and the actual experience of those who desperately need access to appropriate supports,” said Cllr Hanley. “Covid-19 has put our mental health services under severe pressure and those suffering from eating disorders should not be allowed to fall through the cracks."
