Eating Disorder Challenge Given Go-Ahead.

A sixteen year old teenager with anorexia, represented by Campbell Fitzpatrick Solicitors, has succeeded in obtaining leave to challenge the lack of specialist treatment available for her in Northern Ireland. Proceedings have been initiated on behalf of the teenager in order to seek a declaration that the Department of Health, the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and the Belfast Health and Social Services Trust have acted unlawfully in failing to provide in-patient eating disorder services for children and adolescents in Northern Ireland. On 21st October 2008 Mr Justice Weatherup ruled that there was an arguable case that the public authorities had not taken into account the particular circumstances of the Applicant when decisions were made concerning the funding and provision of in-patient facilities in this jurisdiction. It is argued on behalf of the Applicant that the failure to provide such facilities in Northern Ireland breaches the rights guaranteed to her by the European Convention on Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The case will proceed to full hearing on Friday 5th December 2008.