Number of people diagnosed with eating disorders in Ireland in 2023 revealed
Junior Health Minister Mary Butler is to now review the whole model of care for eating disorders this year following the latest data
A total of 385 Irish people were diagnosed with eating disorders last year.
The vast majority were young people under 18 but there is growing concern that the illness is becoming more prevalent among adults.
Junior Health Minister Mary Butler is to now review the whole model of care for eating disorders this year following the latest data.
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She confirmed that 90 percent of eating disorder services are now delivered within the community and that only a small number of people especially those with anorexia will require inpatient care for short periods for stabilisation and refeeding.
She said: "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.
“In 2023, 385 people had an eating disorder diagnosis. It is important to note that in the same year, 343 people with an eating disorder diagnosis were discharged from specialist services back to their GP.
“There are currently 20 dedicated eating disorder beds across the 4 CAMHS in- patient units. As of today 25 percent of these beds were unoccupied."
She added: “There are now 100 people working across eating disorder teams including 80 eating disorder Clinicians with 10 consultant Psychiatrists.
“The HSE works hard to meet the needs of people with eating disorders in the setting more appropriate to their needs whether that can be community teams, beds in the public system, specialist beds from private providers funded by the HSE under the treatment abroad scheme. Fourteen people have availed of the Treatment Abroad Scheme.”
The Minister was responding to a parliamentary question from the Meath Sinn Fein TD Darren O’Rourke.
She also said adults with eating disorders and who require inpatient care can be referred to any of the HSE’s 66 acute in-patient mental health approved centres around the country
The Minister added: “I do accept that not of all these approved centres may have the specialist expertise available and in situ as required in all cases.
“New pathways have been developed between the six specialist adult eating disorder teams and the relevant approved centres in their particular area to provide liaison support .”
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