“Young people and families have warmly welcomed our move to Riverside House - this new clinical base will strengthen our capacity to provide early evidence-based support and care for children and adolescents experiencing eating disorders,” noted Dr Michelle Clifford, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, HSE Child and Adolescent Eating Disorder Team and National Clinical Lead for Eating Disorders, speaking as Riverside House Community Eating Disorder Services, a new hub for specialist community mental health services for children, adolescents and people with eating disorders in the Dublin South and Wicklow health area was officially opened in recent weeks by Mary Butler, Government Chief Whip and Minister for Mental Health.
A joint HSE and St John of God Community Mental Health purpose-built clinical facility, the community service consolidates and expands on existing multi-disciplinary services and provides a co-location for two specialist outpatient teams for children, adolescents and adults.
The teams based at Riverside House are part of the network of eating disorder teams recommended by the HSE Model of Care for Eating Disorder Services. They have the key aim to provide safe, accessible and quality eating disorder services leading to better clinical outcomes and recovery for service users.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Butler described the resource as a:
“flagship for our developing national network of eating disorders services. Riverside brings together community teams, the new intensive day programme, and specialist beds at St Vincents Hospital. I believe the new day programme represents huge progress for our eating disorder services, as it offers a viable and effective alternative to inpatient care. This investment reflects my strong commitment to early intervention and expanding access to specialist community services, ensuring people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Since I became Minister, we have grown the clinical programme for eating disorders from one team to 14 now funded, with over 100 dedicated clinicians providing care around the country.”
Among the key developments featured in the new service are Specialist Interventions – a range of evidence-based treatments, including specialist individual, family and group interventions available at the co-located service. These foster a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach. They also deliver an Eating Disorder Day Programme for Adults, a new service providing intensive, structured treatment for individuals with severe eating disorders. It functions as a vital step-up from routine outpatient care and, crucially, as a step-down for those leaving inpatient treatment.
A lifespan approach (CAMHS to Adult Services) is also being made available. By having child, adolescent, and adult services together, this ensures that Riverside House will manage the critical transition from CAMHS to adult services. This integrated approach helps prevent patients from disengaging from treatment during a traditionally vulnerable period, ensuring continuity of care and improving long-term outcomes.
Dr Art Malone, Consultant Psychiatrist, Adult Eating Disorder team, HSE Dublin South and Wicklow explained that:
“Riverside House serves as a powerful metaphor for recovery, demonstrating that what was once broken can be rebuilt, just as eating disorder recovery is possible with the right commitment and expertise. This new building will allow for the expansion of eating disorder services and as a growing centre of excellence.”
Concluding, Aisling Heffernan, IHA Manager, Dublin South and Wicklow, noted how “Riverside House is more than a new building. It’s a vital new resource that will transform treatment for people with eating disorders in our health area. It demonstrates our commitment to providing high-quality, person-centred health care that is aligned with national clinical strategy. I am confident that this new service will lead to significant improved outcomes for our service users and their families.”
In relation to the HSE Corporate Plan, the Riverside House Community Eating Disorder Services ties in with the stated priority of services being deliver at the Right Time. Under the heading Child, Youth and Adult Mental Health the stated aim is to “implement the HSE’s Improvement Programmes, including those relating to the Child and Youth Mental Health Action Plan, to increase timely access to clinically effective and standardised mental health services.”