Dr. Brendan Doody:

Within our unit, we feel that the two beds are adequate for the functioning of the unit. It is important that there be turnover. The Senator asked about waiting times for admission to the unit. If we break down the 153 admissions, 22% - 34 young people - were admitted on the same day of referral, a total of 56% were admitted within two days of referral and more than 70% were admitted within six days. The majority of young people who are admitted are admitted in a timely manner, although we have young people waiting longer than that for a bed. The group who are usually waiting longer are primarily those with specific eating disorders. There is not as quick a turnover in our eight specialist eating disorder beds as there is in our other beds, so young people sometimes have to wait longer to be admitted to those. Just 10% of our admissions waited more than three weeks to be admitted.