Concern at rise in eating disorder cases in Cork and Kerry as 65 children sent for help

More than 60 children across Cork and Kerry have been referred to the Child and Adolescent Regional Eating Disorder Service (CAREDS) so far in 2025.

Figures provided to The Echo by the HSE South West branch show there have been 65 referrals to CAREDS since the start of this year, equating to approximately 10 children per month. This figure represents an increase on the 62 referrals made to the service in the same period of 2024.

A spokesperson for HSE South West confirmed that there are 15 children in Cork waiting for a CAREDS appointment, with an average waiting time of 1.88 months, according to data provided by the HSE to local authority members of the Regional Heath Forum.

Appalling

Speaking to The Echo, Paula Crotty, a Cork mother whose daughter, Jennifer, died two years ago, following a lengthy battle with anorexia, said that the provision of eating disorder care in Ireland is “appalling”.

“The HSE and Mary Butler [minister of state at the Department of Health with responsibility for mental health] need to acknowledge that what they’re doing is not enough,” said Ms Crotty.

The HSE spokesperson said HSE South West Mental Health Services in Cork and Kerry “offer a range of treatments for people with eating disorders”.

“Evidence shows that most people have better outcomes if they continue to live at home, while they receive effective, evidence-based treatment from trained staff,” said the spokesperson. “A small number of people benefit from more intensive treatment, [for example] through inpatient care.

“All referrals, including those for eating disorders and other clinical diagnostic categories, are carefully triaged by inpatient consultants. As part of this process, individuals may be offered additional assessment, consultation, or admission based on clinical need.

“Anyone who is concerned about an eating disorder should discuss it with their GP — they can offer medical assessment, support, and information on treatment options, including referral to a community mental health team.”

Improved supports

Ms Crotty is a member of CARED Ireland (Caring About Recovery from Eating Disorders), a group made up of parents, professionals, friends, and family members who are seeking improved supports for ED sufferers.

“They [the Government] need to face the criticism they have been faced with year after year,” she said.

“They need to acknowledge that there are not enough ED services in Ireland.

“We [members of CARED Ireland] have been pushing in the background to get this all sorted out.

“It breaks my heart — there are thousands of people struggling with an ED, and the services are not good enough for them. Most of the country still doesn’t have any centres available to them — all of these centres are catchment-affiliated, so most of them don’t cover all of the people who are suffering.

“They [the Government] are making it out like they have a great service, but there are parents all over the country that are paying for [private] therapy for their kids, dieticians, and GPs; it’s appalling what’s going on.

“A question that I would ask as well is how many people are going to their GP looking for ED support and are not being referred?

“I have loads of people contacting me saying they are waiting for services; they’re being told that there’s nothing else that can be offered to them.

“I have been fighting this fight for years, and I find it really hard to understand — to see that we’re still not getting anywhere. I don’t know how to get people to actually start listening to us. We, as parents, want representation for our kids, but we’re not getting that.”

For more information on CARED Ireland, visit https://caredireland.ie.