Government failing people with eating disorders, Sherlock says

Labour’s TD Marie Sherlock has slammed the government for what she calls a “complete failure” to deliver specialist inpatient beds for adults & children with eating disorders.

Citing commitments from the government in 2018 to deliver 20 new beds, none have been delivered.

The Labour health spokesperson said “government inaction is forcing many suffering from eating disorders into costly private care or general psychiatric units where they do not receive specialised care.”

“We know from Health Research Board data that 76% of inpatient admissions for eating disorders are to private facilities and private charity providers. Troublingly, eating disorders now account for the highest proportion of all under 18 admissions.

“It is yet another example of the State abdicating its responsibility and forcing patients into the private sector. This is not how a functioning public health system should work. The state must develop specialised eating disorder services.”

The Dublin Central TD said that Minister Mary Butler is “out of touch” with her brief and has a “very poor understanding of eating disorders.”

Last year, Butler claimed that there was “no need” for additional beds, a claim which Sherlock deemed “callous.”

“The government’s failure to deliver these beds is a disgrace,” she said, and said that early intervention is “absolutely crucial for treating eating disorders.”

“Labour wholeheartedly welcomes the development of community hubs. But we cannot ignore the stark reality: when a patient requires hospitalisation, eating disorders demand the longest inpatient stays of all psychiatric illnesses. According to 2023 data, the average stay is 59.4 days.”

“Furthermore, the demand for inpatient care is increasing at an alarming rate. Between 2019 and 2023, the number of eating disorder patients requiring hospitalisation rose by 43%, with the rise being particularly stark among under-18s. Almost a quarter of all psychiatric admissions for young people are due to eating disorders.

“The need for specialist beds is urgent—yet the Government continues to turn a blind eye. The question is simple: where do these patients go? Right now, if they cannot afford private care, they are being placed in general psychiatric units with no specialist support. This is unacceptable. The Government must act now and deliver the specialist inpatient services and beds that have been promised for years.”