Eating disorder patients in Aotearoa need specialist units, not medical wards

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-10-10 00:01

Australia; New Zealand; NSW

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People with eating disorders need specialist care with a high level of psychological support and psychiatric supervision, write the authors of a Viewpoint article in the NZ Medical Journal, but Aotearoa New Zealand doesn't have enough eating disorder units. While medical wards are appropriate for short-term stabilisation of acute cases, many patients end up staying in medical wards longer term. This means they don't get the level of care they need, and it increases delays for medical patients waiting for beds. The authors recommend all general medicine teams insist that hospitals stop using medical wards for the long-term management of a complex psychiatric condition.

Media release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

There is a lack of eating disorder units in New Zealand. Medical wards and physicians are being
pressured to take these complex psychiatric disorders for prolonged admissions despite medical
care not being required. Appropriate care cannot be provided on medical wards and using them for
this purpose further delays the care of medical patients waiting for beds. Current practice violates
the right of eating disorder patients, delays the care of medical patients and puts physicians at
medico-legal risk.

Journal/
conference: New Zealand Medical Journal

Organisation/s: The University of Sydney, Wellington Regional Hospital, NZ; Royal Hobart Hospital, Australia; Sydney Southwest Hospital, Australia

Funder: n/a

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