The plight of a young woman from Cork city, who has had to start her own fundraising campaign to get inpatient care for an eating disorder and OCD, has been raised in the Dáil.
25 year old Emma O'Sullivan is fearful that she will never recover from the illness through the public mental health system, and is trying to fundraise so she can avail of private treatment.
Emma has already expressed her belief that she feels her life could be at risk if she cannot access specialised care soon.
West Cork TD, Holly Cairns, challenged the Taoiseach on the matter during Leader's Questions in the Dáil and highlighted the fact that Emma had a bake sale in Micheál Martin's own constituency of Ballinlough at the weekend to try and fund her care.
In response, Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler, answering on the Taoiseach's behalf, said she was aware of the case and pointed out that there are 56 approved centres around the country for eating disorder cases and a person can avail of inpatient supports in any of those centres:
"I am aware of the pace that you that you are alluding to, but I can't discuss it on the floor of the Dáil. We have been working on it, but the government does remain firmly committed to enhancing specialist eating disorder services, including improved access and shorter waiting lists."
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can contact Bodywhys Helpline on (01) 2107906.
