Bernard Allen
Ceist:13 Mr. Allen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the support services available for persons suffering from eating disorders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26205/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 28 October 2004
Ceisteanna (17)
Freagraí scríofa
Persons presenting with eating disorders are generally treated through the psychiatric services of their local health board. Outpatient psychiatric services are provided from a network of hospitals, health centres, day hospitals and day centres. Where in-patient treatment is deemed necessary, it is provided in the local acute psychiatric unit or hospital, beds being allocated on the basis of patient need at any particular time.
A tertiary referral service for eating disorders is available to public patients in St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin where three in-patient beds are designated for this purpose. A similar service is available privately at St. Patrick's Hospital, James's St, Dublin and at St. John of God Hospital, Stillorgan, County Dublin.
The voluntary organisation, Bodywhys, provides advice and support to sufferers of eating disorders, their families and carers. My Department has provided funding of €394,000 to Bodywhys since 2001 to further develop its activities in this area.
An expert group on mental health policy is currently preparing a national policy framework for the further modernisation of the mental health services. The provision of services to people with eating disorders is among the issues being considered by the group. It is expected to report in 2005.