Mentally-ill patients are adding pressure to the emergency department, with some reportedly waiting there for as long as 48 hours.

Others are being sent to Taree and Coffs Harbour, away from their families and their much-needed support.

Studies have found emergency departments are not adequately designed as secure environments for mental health patients at risk of harm or escape.

Exposing psychotic patients to the traumatic environment of the emergency department can often exacerbate their distress, says local mother and mental health advocate Helen Elliott.

For the past two decades Ms Elliott’s daughter Tracey has been living with chronic schizophrenia.

During this time, Ms Elliott has seen first-hand the failings of what she believes to be an inadequate system.

“It’s disgraceful that people are waiting this long,” Ms Elliott said. If they’re sitting in an emergency department it doesn’t take much for them to be sent over the edge.”

“When they are terribly psychotic, it makes it dangerous not only for them, but for others.”

The Port News understands staff of the 12-bed Mental Health Unit, Ward 1A are under enormous pressure.

John Leary director of mental health and drug and alcohol for the Mid North Coast Local Health District (MNCLHD) admitted there had been a “small number” of patients sent to Taree and Coffs Harbour in August.

But according to Ms Elliott, there has been a shortage of beds for years.

Back in 2007, the then chairman of the hospital’s Medical Staff Council told the Port News a 20 to 30 bed mental health ward was urgently needed.

Stephen Begbie said he wanted the government to commit to a fourth-pod, to help solve the mental health and critical-care problems faced by the hospital.

Six years later and the hospital’s $110 million fourth pod is on the way.

But there has been no funds allocated for the expansion or upgrade of the mental health ward.

Head of the Medical Staff Council doctor Anne Rasmussen said an upgraded mental health ward was not included because it did not “fit within the budget”.

She said mental health care was a “daily problem” for the local hospital, which placed pressure on staff and the emergency department.

“This wasn’t a matter of trying to exclude a patient group, we simply couldn’t address all the things we wanted to with the funds we were given,” Dr Rasmussen said.

She said the hospital was fighting for more money to go towards improving the mental health service.

But ultimately it was up to state and federal governments to fund their cause.

Mr Leary said an increase in capacity for the Mental Health Inpatient Unit has been listed as one of five priorities for the MNCLHD.

He said some patients had been “accommodated in the Emergency Department for more than 24 hours”.