Hon Tony Ryall
Minister of Health
Hon Todd McClay
Associate Minister of Health (Mental Health)
4 July 2013 Media Statement
$26M boost for eating disorders getting results
The Government’s extra $26 million investment in eating disorders services has more than doubled the number of dedicated
beds and doubled the number of families being helped say Health Minister Tony Ryall and Associate Health Minister Todd
McClay (Mental Health).
“The extra investment is also paying for crucial earlier detection and family based therapy for this very serious
condition,” Mr Ryall says.
“Anorexia is a terrifying illness – it has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness but I am advised the
improved treatment is making a significant difference to the mainly young sufferers and their families.
“The Government’s $26 million investment has bought fifteen extra dedicated eating disorders beds; five in Starship
Hospital , one extra paediatric bed in Wellington, and a new nine bed residential eating disorders facility for Northern
Region older youth and adults (Thrive), bringing the national total of dedicated beds to 27. The improved services began
in 2009.
Mr McClay says the Government paid particular attention to expanding eating disorder services for children and young
people which was the area with the largest gaps.
“The extra funding is also boosting training for clinicians, especially in the highly effective family based treatment
known as the Maudsley approach,” Mr McClay says.
"This is crucial because many people suffering from this mental illness are very young, and the international evidence
is that they are better off with the active support of their families when they are going through such a deeply
difficult time,” Mr McClay says.
“Clinicians tell me the national roll out of training clinicians in family based therapy for early treatment, combined
with inpatient facilities for adolescent anorexia, has significantly improved chances for full recovery of young people
with anorexia, Mr Ryall says.
“A typical case is a fourteen year old girl spending three and a half weeks in Starship Hospital with an abnormally slow
heart beat and hypothermia due to her anorexia. Then she and her family began family based therapy from home. A year
later she’s back to goal weight and enjoying a normal life with her friends and family.
“Clinicians tell me without the extra funding for inpatient care and community treatment, including family based
therapy, these young anorexics would quite likely have ended up having to be sent to Sydney for treatment because
services were inadequate here.
“That was the situation we inherited - particularly in the northern region. But I am pleased to report that in 2012, 920
people were seen by specialist eating disorders teams in New Zealand, compared to only 483 in 2008, one year before this
Government’s extra funding began.”
Mr McClay says the Government is investing in ensuring community teams around the country are working better together,
and have stronger links to resources, training and support from the specialist services in Auckland, Wellington and
Christchurch.
“Eating disorders are complex and encompass a range of conditions that have overlapping medical and psychiatric
symptoms. The impact on the person and their family is immense. The Government’s additional funding is ensuring that
across the country, people have better care and support closer to home,” Mr McClay says.
ENDS