Eating disorder unit to be in place ‘by 2030’

An eating disorder unit is to be established in County Roscommon by 2030, according to the Department of Health.

The facility will provide six inpatient beds for adults at Roscommon University Hospital, in addition to a planned 50-bed mental health unit.

“The plan will be progressed under the governance structures of the forthcoming 10-year capital plan for mental health services, supported by funding from the National Development Plan 2026-2030,” a department spokesperson outlined.

Local Fianna Fáil TD, Dr Martin Daly, welcomed confirmation that funding has been approved for a new specialist multidisciplinary eating disorder team and six dedicated inpatient beds for the region. However, he noted that the HSE response provides no timeline for when these services will become fully operational.

“Families are entitled to know when these commitments will become a reality. We have funding approved. We have recruitment commencing. We have services being planned. What we do not yet have is a clear date when people in Roscommon can expect to access specialist adult eating disorder care.

“We have made significant progress as a society in recognising eating disorders and encouraging people to seek help. The next challenge is ensuring that when people do come forward, the services they need are actually there,” he said.

Deputy Daly said he would continue to engage with the HSE and the Minister for Health to secure a clear implementation timeline and ensure that people in Roscommon are not left behind as the new regional service is developed.

He has also called for urgent clarity from the HSE on the delivery of specialist eating disorder services after receiving confirmation that no specialist adult eating disorder service is currently available in the county.

Dr Daly said the response he received highlights a wider issue within the health service that deserves greater attention.

“Anorexia nervosa is one of the most serious mental health conditions we encounter. It carries one of the highest mortality rates of any psychiatric illness and often requires highly specialised treatment involving psychiatry, psychology, dietetics and nursing support.” 

“What concerns me is that the HSE recognises the need for specialist eating disorder services for young people under 18, yet there remains no equivalent specialist service available for adults in Roscommon,” said Deputy Daly.

“As both a doctor and a public representative, I believe that is a question worth asking. How can a condition require specialist treatment on the day before a person’s eighteenth birthday but not have a specialist service available on the day after?,” he said.

The HSE has confirmed that adults with eating disorders currently rely on general adult mental health services while a dedicated specialist service for the West remains under development.

The response also reveals that Roscommon’s Mental Health Dietitian post was vacant from 2023 and was only covered on a limited sessional basis until earlier this year.

“Dietetic support is not an optional part of eating disorder treatment. It is a fundamental component of care. The fact that this position was vacant for such a prolonged period raises important questions about capacity within the system,” said the TD.