Government failure to deliver inpatient eating disorder beds is leaving patients without access to appropriate treatment, while families are being forced to borrow money or go abroad to secure care. That’s according to Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, Conor D. McGuinness, who took Priority Questions on Health in the Dáil this week, alongside Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Deputy David Cullinane.
Deputy McGuinness challenged the Minister of State with responsibility for Mental Health on the severe lack of inpatient eating disorder beds and the inadequate implementation of the national model of care. HSE data shows that while 1,700 new cases present annually, just 46 out of 700 patients referred to the HSE between 2018 and 2022 received inpatient treatment.
“Something is not tallying,” said Deputy McGuinness. “When the current Tánaiste was Minister for Health, he promised to deliver 20 beds by 2023. He did not promise to deliver them for no good reason. It was understood at that time that there was an urgent need for additional capacity in the system.”
While the Government claims no one is currently waiting for access to the three specialist adult beds in St Vincent’s, Deputy McGuinness noted that this may be due to the scale of outsourcing and private spending now propping up the system.
“There might not have been anybody waiting as of yesterday precisely because the HSE is spending €12.5 million annually to send people abroad for treatment. Something we have done far too often in this country is to send women and girls, in particular, abroad for treatment. The statistics bear this out and show it is predominantly an issue affecting women and girls.”
Deputy McGuinness also criticised the lack of data collection on those being forced to seek private care due to lack of public capacity.
“Often, parents are putting their hands in their pockets or borrowing money to access care for their children or young adults. Whatever means are available and at the HSE’s disposal in terms of surveying must be used to find out what percentage of these 1,700 new cases emerging every year are being forced to make the decision to go private because of the lack of capacity in the public system.”
He added: “It is also putting families under real hardship at a time when people need to get access to urgent care.”
Despite years of promises, the Minister could not confirm a timeline for the delivery of the adult inpatient beds or outline a concrete plan for expanding capacity across the country. Instead, the Minister referenced an internal review and a plan that may be delivered to her by the HSE “by the end of June.”
Speaking after the exchange, Deputy McGuinness said:
“The Government’s approach to eating disorder care has been piecemeal, slow and under-resourced. They have failed to implement the model of care in full. They have failed to deliver the beds they promised. And they have failed the women, girls, and families who are left without access to vital, life-saving treatment.”
“At this stage, it feels like the Government has simply given up on trying to improve mental health services.”
Conor D. McGuinness TD 