Adults in Mid-West who need treatment for eating disorders being diverted to psychiatric care

The region has no dedicated eating disorder service

'People are being harmed and dying as a result of a lack of appropriate care for eating disorders in the Mid-West. Families are at breaking point.' File picture

Adults requiring inpatient care for eating disorders in the Mid-West are being diverted into psychiatric care in Limerick and Ennis because there is no dedicated service for them.

As well as the region having no dedicated eating disorder service, there is no date for the roll-out of an adult eating disorder team under the HSE’s five-year model of care for community eating disorders.

In response to a parliamentary question by Limerick Labour TD Conor Sheehan, the HSE said: “At present, there is no dedicated adult eating disorder service available within the Mid-West region to which individuals can be formally referred. 

"The Midwest Mental Health Services look forward to the development of an adult eating disorder team when funding for same becomes available.” 

Adults with eating disorders receive their community services in the adult community mental health teams, it said.

"Most people can and do recover from eating disorders if they receive effective, evidence-based treatment from eating disorder-trained staff. 

"While a small number of people benefit from more intensive treatment through day programmes or inpatient care, the most effective treatment setting is in the community. 

"When an inpatient bed is required, adults can be referred by their treating consultant to our inpatient beds in our approved centres, Unit 5B (University Hospital Limerick) and APU (Acute Psychiatric Unit) Ennis.” 

Mr Sheehan said the lack of a dedicated eating disorder service in the Mid-West to which individuals can be formally referred is unacceptable. He called for funding to be allocated in Budget 2027 to establish a dedicated adult eating disorder service in the region.

He said inpatient care in psychiatric units is not an appropriate setting for people with eating disorders.

He added: “People are being harmed and dying as a result of a lack of appropriate care for eating disorders in the Mid-West. Families are at breaking point. 

"Eating disorders have the highest mortality rates of all mental illnesses. People in Limerick should not be sent to psychiatric units where they are not receiving appropriate care.” 

In January 2018, the HSE published a five-year model of care for community eating disorders, with a plan to have the specialist teams in place by 2023.

However, the rollout hit delays, with 11 of the 16 planned teams currently in place. Mental health minister Mary Butler recently said that the remaining five teams are in the recruitment and development stages.