Eating disorder team to be established for Offaly

A new Eating Disorder team is to be put in place to serve six counties - including Offaly- that to date have not been served by an eating disorder team.

The Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler last week announced the locations for two additional eating disorder teams, being funded under Budget 2025.

The new teams will be a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) eating disorder team in HSE Midwest, and an adult eating disorder team across the regional health areas of HSE Dublin and Midlands, and HSE Dublin and North East.

The new CAMHS eating disorder team will cover Limerick city, county and county Clare, and the new adult team will cover counties that to date have not been served by an eating disorder team – Louth, Meath, Longford, Westmeath, Laois and Offaly.

Minister Butler said the new multidisciplinary teams will support children and adults with eating disorders, working to assess people’s needs, diagnose eating disorders, and commence person-centred treatment based on a variety of evidence-based interventions.

“Eating disorder teams have greatly enhanced screening and early recognition of eating disorders in Ireland, and are providing swifter access to specialist services,” she said.

“Improving access to quality services is an absolute priority for me, and I know there is more to be done as we work to complete the rollout of the National Clinical Programme. I will continue efforts to ensure additional investment in eating disorder supports to make sure that care is delivered where and when needed, including both community based and inpatient care.

Eating disorder services primarily take place in the community setting, where, at present, 90% of eating disorder supports such as early assessment and treatment are delivered. Research shows this is the most effective approach to eating disorder treatment.

It takes on average 12-18 months to set up a multi-disciplinary team, led by a Consultant Psychiatrist.