Protests will demand better care for eating disorders

The protesters will demand a reduction in waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services, as well as increased inpatient beds; provision of nasogastric feeding in all inpatient facilities, and the availability of ED specialists and mental health services in all public hospitals.

Protests demanding reforms of eating disorder services in Ireland will take place in Cork, Limerick and Dublin on Saturday.

The protests have been organised by Dublin-based Amy Hanley, whose now 16-year-old daughter was a patient in five different facilities in just over a year, as she sought help for anorexia.

Ms Hanley arranged a protest in Dublin last November and decided to organise Saturday’s three events ahead of Eating Disorder Awareness Week, which starts on Monday.

All three will kick off at 11am, with the Cork event at the plaza at City Hall. The Limerick event takes place outside the main gates of University Hospital Limerick while the Dublin protest will start in front of the Department of Health at 11am and walk towards the Dail in Kildare Street at 12pm, via St Stephen's Green.

The protesters will demand a reduction in waiting times for child and adolescent mental health services, as well as increased inpatient beds; provision of nasogastric feeding in all inpatient facilities, and the availability of ED specialists and mental health services in all public hospitals.

"No family or individual should endure the obstacles we faced in securing treatment for my daughter. It's time to dismantle the multiple barriers that impede access to care for eating disorders in this country," said Ms Hanley.

Ms Hanley said her daughter ended up in adult settings on three occasions after turning 16 years old, instead of in children’s services.

She points out that eating disorders have a high mortality rate and says: "Countless young individuals and their families across Ireland are needlessly suffering as they grapple with the lack of resources in the face of deteriorating physical and mental health. This is unacceptable. We need our voices heard once and for all.” 

In January 2018, the HSE published a five-year Model of Care for community eating disorder care, with a plan to have sixteen specialist teams in place in by 2023. However, this deadline has not been met.

Minister Stephen Donnelly said recently that recruiting into ten eating disorder teams around the country is ongoing.

He acknowledged: “We have seen a significant increase in general youth mental health presentations, including for body dysmorphia and eating disorders.” 

Support and helplines:

• Bodywhys helpline: 01-2107906 
• Bodywhys e-mail support service: [e-mail] 
• HSE eating disorder self-care app