MENTALLY ill Victorians who should be in psychiatric care spend up to four days in emergency departments because of a shortage of beds.

Victorian Government figures released under freedom of information show that in 2008 at least one person, and as many as four, waited between three and four days in emergency departments before being admitted to a specialist care bed.

Another 114 people waited on emergency department trolleys for more than one day and 20 patients waited between two and three days. Story continues here ➤