One teenager who sought help for an eating disorder says she had to sleep on a hospital floor, while hooked up to a drip.
Newstalk ran a series of reports last year, focusing on the services available.
But as reporter Paul O'Donoghue found out, many of the Government's own targets have been missed.
He told The Hard Shoulder: "There were three main aims really, and they're all linked.
"The first one was to restore funding for new eating disorder treatment services - which had been suspended - hire more staff and then open specialist treatment hubs to help people who are suffering.
"On funding, there was an improvement there - just over €1m was allocated in the budget last year.
"This was an improvement on zero euro the previous year.
"But the Government had previously said it was aiming to hire nearly 50 treatment staff by end of 2021 - and funding was actually put in place for just 20."
Publishing a report on how Ireland treats eating disorders in advance of Eating Disorder Awareness Week. Some stats:
- Gvt promised 47 treatment staff by end 2021. Funding approved for just 20.
- Gvt promised 3 new treatment centres by the end of 2021. Number actually opened: 0— Paul O'Donoghue (@paulodonoghue93) February 23, 2022
And on the specialist hubs, he says there were plans to build 16 specialist treatment hubs across Ireland between 2018 and next year.
However just three of the 16 have opened, with none opening last year.
"Without these hubs and without these specialist staff, there are almost no public services for eating disorders in most parts of Ireland", he says.
'I was so weak, I passed out'
'Sarah', now 17, suffered from anorexia since she was 12.
She was referred to a general hospital, as there were no specialist treatment services in her area.
She explains: "We had to go to A&E because the doctor in CAMHS sent me. It took a full day in the A&E, it was so bad.
"I was hooked on to a drop because I was so weak, I passed out.
"When it came to night they said they were going to find a bed for me - but there was no bed.
"So I literally had to sleep on the floor, literally just had a jacket over me as a blanket.
"I was still hooked to the drip and I was sleeping on the floor, just waiting for a bed.
"They didn't come give me a bed until midday the next day".
Sarah says getting help in the public system is difficult.
"You have to prove that you're sick to get the help you want or you need.
"You won't get any help from a public system unless you're in front of them physically too sick to move".
'Begging for help'
Her mother 'Grace' insisted on speaking to the doctor.
"She was still so sick on the Monday that they tried to release her that I insisted on speaking to somebody before they let her out.
"I spoke to the doctor and went through everything, and he said there's nothing they can do in a mainstream hospital for her.
"He said that he would refer her for an inpatient eating unit in St Vincent's".
Grace says her daughter is struggling to eat three times a day.
"She's not eating a meal; she'd eat a bit of apple or milkshake, or a little bit of pasta for me last night.
"And she hasn't been strong enough to leave her room... and we're just waiting, we don't know what's happening, to be honest with you".
She adds that the burden seems to be higher on people with an eating disorder.
"An eating disorder is an illness, just like any other illness.
"If somebody had cancer or something like that they wouldn't be begging for help, they wouldn't be begging for treatment.
"They wouldn't be left sleeping on the hospital floor, hooked up to a drip and left there all night".
Reporting by: Paul O'Donoghue
Anyone affected by issues raised in this article can contact Bodywhys on (01)-210-7906
