It’s understood a mental health patient waited four days in the emergency department due to bed block.

The patient was one of six who needed mental health treatment over the weekend but waited to be moved from the emergency department.

It’s understood three patients waited three days in the emergency department. 

A Tasmanian Health Service spokesman said the LGH ED “experienced an unusually high number of mental health patient presentations over the weekend”. 

He said the demand for suitable beds for mental health patients had eased on Monday, and patients had been moved from the emergency department. 

“Mental Health Services is actively recruiting to fill medical vacancies,” the THS spokesman said.

It is understood the LGH inpatient mental health unit, Northside, was at capacity. 

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation state secretary Neroli Ellis said it had been reported to the ANMF that bed block caused delays in treatment and admissions over the weekend.

“It was particularly bad with the mental health clients, there’s just not enough acute mental health beds in this state,” Mrs Ellis said. 

The THS spokesman said emergency department and mental health staff worked hard “to ensure patients received appropriate care” during the busy period over the weekend. 

If you need help, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636