More than 60% increase in hospital admissions of young people with eating disorders 

Psychiatrists are regularly unable to find a specialist bed for their patients, which means they are placed on general wards instead. Picture: iStock

There was a more than 60% increase in young people being admitted to hospital with eating disorders last year, and the figure may even be higher but is being masked by bed shortages.

This is according to an analysis by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) of studies around paediatric hospitals and in-patient care through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs).