An overview of a 4-year period of admissions of young people with eating difficulties to a general admissions unit.

Aims and method: To review and explore the eating disorder admissions to an in-patient child and adolescent mental health hospital which had restarted taking such presentations. This was done by conducting three audits using RiO (an electronic patient records system) and including all young people with eating disorders or related difficulties admitted between 1 February 2019 and 30 June 2023. As part of this, relevant practice standards were identified using the baseline assessment tool in UK national guidelines.

Results: The audits identified 46 completed admissions, detailing demographic information, nasogastric and restraint feeding, therapeutic interventions and medication, admission and discharge routes, length of admission and more.

Clinical implications: The review highlighted the apparent overall success of a general admission unit in treating eating disorders and related difficulties and identified key areas of importance and development in terms of clinical practice.