Dr. Brendan Doody:

Again, I suppose we have to look at that figure and then look at each particular case. We could ask why a young person needs to be readmitted. It could be a function of his or her illness. If he or she has a relapse and requires more intensive treatment, we have to look at whether it is that. We have to look at whether the level of support that the young person requires in the community perhaps is not readily available. Alternatively, it could perhaps have to do with something outside this. Sometimes the reason for readmission could be something outside the family or treatment system. There may be another breakdown, let us say, in school attendance and the young person’s level of functioning.

It should be remembered that the vast majority of young people who attend specialist CAMHS are never admitted and do not require admission. The group that requires admission are-----