The Health Service Executive (HSE) allocated €4.6 million in 2023 to send seven patients with eating disorders abroad for treatment through the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS), highlighting significant gaps in domestic healthcare capacity. This expenditure nearly matches the €8.1 million invested in Ireland’s eating disorder services during the same period, raising questions about resource allocation and healthcare infrastructure.
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The substantial cost of sending patients overseas for treatment – averaging approximately €657,000 per patient – contrasts sharply with domestic service funding. Since the launch of the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders (NCP-ED) in 2018, the HSE has invested over €12.5 million in overseas treatment, funds that could potentially have strengthened domestic treatment capabilities.
According to The Irish Examiner, support organization Bodywhys has emphasized the urgent need for consistent funding to develop and maintain comprehensive eating disorder services within Ireland. The current situation, where overseas treatment costs nearly match domestic service budgets, underscores the critical need for strategic investment in local healthcare infrastructure.
The significant disparity between international treatment costs and domestic service funding raises important questions about long-term healthcare planning and resource allocation in Ireland’s mental health sector. This spending pattern suggests a pressing need to reevaluate the current approach to eating disorder treatment and consider more sustainable domestic solutions.