Hear, hear.

Sentiment score: 0.00

This question relates to the waiting times for inpatient admission for eating disorders and plans that are in place, or not in place as the case may be, to increase the number of inpatient eating disorder beds and to properly resource the model of care. We know from the HSE's estimates that there are 1,700 new presentations of people with eating disorders every year. Between 2018 and 2022, those figures show us that of 700 people who presented to the HSE with an eating disorder, only 46 received inpatient treatment. Something is not tallying. What is the plan?

Sentiment score: 0.01

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. As she outlined, the fact is that there are only three specialist beds and they are in St. Vincent's Hospital. When the current Tánaiste was the Minister for Health, he promised to deliver 20 beds by 2023. He did not promise to deliver them for no good reason. It was understood at that time that there was an urgent need for additional capacity in the system. We must also be realistic here. There might not have been anybody waiting as of yesterday precisely because the HSE is spending €12.5 million annually to send people abroad for treatment. Something we have done far too often in this country is to send women and girls, in particular, abroad for treatment. The statistics bear this out and show it is predominantly an issue affecting women and girls. The question remains as to what the plan is to increase this capacity. While it is appropriate and positive that many people are treated in the community, this is not suitable for everybody. What is the plan to increase capacity?

Sentiment score: 0.17

The other issue, and the Minister of State touched on it, is the number of people opting to go private. Often, parents are putting their hands in their pockets or borrowing money to access care for their children or young adults. It is important for the HSE to do work on this aspect. I understand the Minister of State does not have these figures and that they are not readily available. Whatever means are available and at the HSE's disposal in terms of surveying must be used to find out what percentage of these 1,700 new cases emerging every year are being forced to make the decision to go private because of the lack of capacity in the public system. This is an element that really needs to be looked at. Not only is it perhaps delaying and impacting treatment and creating divisions between the private treatment they are paying for and the other community supports they could return to, it is also putting families under real hardship at a time when people need to get access to urgent care.

Sentiment score: 0.13