Sinn Féin spokesperson on Mental Health, Mark Ward TD, has called for better investment into eating disorder services.
Deputy Ward was speaking following the publication of Sinn Féin’s Mental Health Action Plan.
Teachta Ward said:
“Eating disorder services have been neglected by this and previous governments.
“Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental health difficulty and yet there are only three adult inpatient beds dedicated to eating disorders in the state. These are all within CHO area 6.
“There cannot be a postcode lottery of care for anyone but particularly for people who are in need of specialist care.
“We have a lack of specialist eating disorder inpatient facilities which means that when someone with an eating disorder is in crisis, they have no other choice than to present to A&E.
“They are then admitted to non-specialist services. Their BMI is increased and then they are released back into the community. There is a lack of specialist services in the community and so this situation can often repeat. So this cycle continues again.
“The government has failed to increase the funding for the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders to reach its target rollout, with no additional funding provided in the previous two years. This year will only see one new team added, far short of the three teams a year required.
“Sinn Féin launched our Mental Health Action Plan this month where we focused on key issues relating to eating disorders.
“We have committed to provide funding to complete the rollout of eating disorder teams across the state and deliver 20 new eating disorder inpatient beds to end the postcode care system.
“Sinn Féin has also committed to a joined-up approach for mental health difficulties so that a person gets the right care, in the right place at the right time.
“People with eating disorders deserve better. They deserve a government who will listen to them and that will provide the specialist services that they need. Sinn Féin will be that government.”
Sinn Féin’s Mental Health Action Plan can be read here:
https://vote.sinnfein.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Sinn-Fein-Mental-Health-Plan-2024.pdf
