Eating disorder service in crisis, say experts

A separate youth eating disorder service is unlikely to be created, despite experts claiming the sector is in crisis, the Ministry of Health says.

Service providers say the number of people with eating disorders is growing and the sector has failed to keep up with demand.

The manager of the Regional Rangatahi (Adolescent) Service at Porirua, Lucy Laphen, said the crisis " is escalating and there are an increasing number of referrals and ages - they are getting younger".

New Zealand has two publicly funded facilities for treating the disorders, one in Wellington - due to close through lack of funds - the other in Christchurch.

Auckland eating disorders counsellor Carol Drew told National Radio the sector needed more funding and staff. Specialists were vital because the problem was not just psychiatric.

"Starship does the best they can, but in reality they can't do the area justice as they don't have the space or time."

She said patients seemed to be starting younger - on average at 11 and 12 - and there were at least 250 new patients a year.

South Island specialist Geoffrey Buckett said the biggest problem was the lack of any coherent national strategy.

A mental health survey last month found 0.5 per cent of the population had an eating disorder in the past 12 months.

- NZPA