Those suffering eating disorders will get a desperately needed funding boost in the state budget next week.
The government is expected to announce $1.6 million to boost hospital bed numbers and help add to the skills base of GPs and community services.
Last month Fairfax Media revealed young adults who needed hospital treatment for eating disorders could be left waiting up to two years for access to one of only two beds available across the state.
Clinicians said there was so little publicly funded treatment they could do little more than offer ''palliative care''. Anorexia kills about one in five patients.
It is understood a new eating disorders plan, due to be announced in full after the budget, will involve state-wide comprehensive community treatment in outpatient clinics, day programs, and with local doctors. It is not known how many hospital beds will be funded.
Mental Health Minister Kevin Humphries said shifting the focus of treating eating disorders towards early intervention was vital, as was improving the skills of local doctors to help free stretched specialist clinics. ''For too long there has not been enough focus on prevention and early intervention, to help support young people before eating disorders become long-term problems,'' he said.
Butterfly Foundation chief executive Christine Morgan said patients caught early were not able to access treatment, meaning their condition would worsen.
She said $1.6 million was enough to make a big difference. ''If it translates into actual services that will help people,'' she said.
Health Minister Jillian Skinner said treatment of eating disorders had long been under-funded.
''Eating disorders are particularly cruel and distressing, both for those who suffer from them as well as their family and friends,'' she said. ''Our aim is to ensure patients are provided with timely access to services that meet their needs regardless of their complexity.''
