88 people on waiting lists for eating disorder services

Michael Bolton

Figures from the HSE show that almost 90 people are on waiting lists for eating disorder services across the country.

A document seen by Breakingnews shows that on September 1st, 88 people are on waiting lists for eating disorder services.

This is a slight drop from the 92 people on waiting lists in March this year.

The waiting time for an initial assessment varies from one to 26 weeks.

There are currently 11 Eating Disorder teams operational across the HSE and an additional three in recruitment.

The area with the highest amount of people on waiting lists is HSE South West, covering Cork and Kerry, with 42 people waiting for eating disorder services.

In HSE Dublin and South East, providing care to South-East Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, South Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and most areas of Wicklow, there are 26 people on waiting lists.

HSE Dublin and North East, covering North Dublin, Louth, Meath, Monaghan and most areas of Cavan, has 10 people waiting for eating disorder services.

At HSE Dublin and Midlands, providing care to Dublin South City and West and Dublin South West, Kildare, West Wicklow, Laois, Offaly, Longford and Westmeath, has seven people on waiting lists.

HSE West and South West, which covers Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, West Cavan, Mayo, Galway and Roscommon, has three people waiting.

According to the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders (NCP-ED) will affect between one to four per cent of the population at some point in their lives.

They are caused by a combination of genetic, biological and psychosocial factors and occur across gender, age, cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic groupings.

Earlier this year, figures from the Health Research Board show admissions for under-18s have doubled in just five years.

Over 1,500 children were admitted to hospital for eating disorders between 2018 and 2022.

The HSE said the four main eating disorders recofnised are Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorders (BED), and Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder