Mental health patients in Melbourne’s south east are waiting far too long for urgent care. Families say loved ones are spending more than a day in emergency departments before being seen, while hospitals struggle with bed shortages and overwhelming demand. This crisis is placing harmful pressure on already vulnerable patients who arrive seeking help during their worst moments.
Official data shows outcomes have sharply declined at Casey and Dandenong hospitals. Only a tiny fraction of patients are transferred to mental health beds within eight hours. The statewide benchmark is not being met. Government sources acknowledge upgrade works and high occupancy are worsening delays, but families say the fundamental problem is capacity not keeping pace with a rapidly growing population.
Sharp Declines at Key Hospitals
Fewer patients are reaching a mental health bed in a timely way at Dandenong and Casey hospitals. Just 4 per cent of adult patients at Dandenong were transferred within eight hours between April and June. At Casey Hospital, the percentage was zero. Five years ago, over half of the patients met that eight hour mark.
Patients are left in waiting rooms for long periods. Some wait up to eight hours before even seeing a doctor. Then they queue again for mental health assessment. Emergency departments run out of accessible cubicles. Beds are scarce. Staff face constant bottlenecks in finding a safe space for someone experiencing severe distress.
Bed occupancy shows limited room for improvement. At Dandenong, adult mental health units are running at 99 per cent occupancy. Staff scramble to locate space for new admissions. Long stays in beds create further pressure. At Dandenong, 22 per cent of patients remain for more than 35 days. That rate is more than double the metropolitan Melbourne average.
A government spokesperson said temporary closures of intensive care area beds during upgrades contributed to the backlog. Works are intended to improve safety, gender separation and quality of care. Upgrades at Monash Medical Centre are complete. Casey and Dandenong are next, with Dandenong’s project beginning early 2026. However, upgrades take time, and delays continue to rise during construction phases.
Current Challenges in the South East
- Severe delays for mental health patients in ER at Casey and Dandenong
- Bed occupancy extremely high, leaving little space to admit emergency arrivals
- Families report poor communication and long waiting periods
- Upgrade works are underway but will not finish until 2026
- Community mental health services report stretched capacity and unaffordable options for some patients
Many mental health patients present repeatedly, often after hours, when community care shuts down. Some rely on emergency departments as the only accessible point of care. As population grows rapidly across Casey, Dandenong and Cardinia, demand for support continues to soar. Monash Health operates Victoria’s largest mental health service in one of the state’s fastest growing regions.
Real Families, Real Delays
Ray, a Cranbourne father, knows the wait times too well. His daughter has mental health challenges and has been admitted many times. On some visits to Casey Hospital, she waited 36 hours before being transferred to a mental health bed. In his words, the biggest issue is not whether care eventually begins, but how long it takes to arrive.
Emergency department cubicles are full most nights. Chairs line corridors and patients sit in hallways. Staff remain committed to helping everyone, but the volume of cases overwhelms resources. Mental health clinicians cannot assess someone until a cubicle opens. Patients wait to move from the waiting room. Then wait again for a mental health professional. Then wait for bed clearance, transfer arrangements and transport.
Ray says the family turned to community mental health services for long-term support. Earlier in his daughter’s life they received care from specialised youth teams. But eventually she was discharged and told to find a private psychiatrist. Private fees proved unsustainable. He says it left them reliant on emergency departments hundreds of times over seven years.
Monash Health states that care begins immediately once a patient is identified as needing mental health support. Emergency psychiatric services inside the emergency department assess and manage patients while they wait for a dedicated bed. But families say the support often feels minimal until a space opens in the unit.
Bed Occupancy and Transfer Trends
H3: Emergency Transfer and Bed Occupancy Snapshot
| Hospital | Transfer to Mental Health Bed Within 8 Hours | Bed Occupancy | Long Stays (35+ Days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dandenong Hospital | 4 per cent | 99 per cent | 22 per cent |
| Casey Hospital | 0 per cent | 72 per cent | Higher than metro average |
| Victoria Statewide Average | 44 per cent | N/A | Lower than south east region |
Figures sourced from official Victorian state health statistics.
System Under Strain During Reform
H4: Investments Aim to Fix Bottlenecks
Victoria is in the middle of the biggest mental health reform in state history. Major construction projects are part of the response. The government is funding upgrades to intensive care areas across the state. Six new Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs hubs are being placed in emergency departments. Monash Medical Centre now has upgraded ICA beds with enhanced safety measures.
Services like the Dandenong Mental Health and Wellbeing Local and the Cardinia Local are expanding access in the community. HOPE, a hospital outreach program supporting people after suicidal episodes, is active at Casey and Dandenong. These initiatives are designed to reduce repeat emergency visits and shorten the time patients wait during crisis.
But transformation takes time. While works proceed, pressure on frontline clinicians remains heavy. Communities need more beds, stronger early intervention, and better pathways into ongoing care. Until capacity catches up to demand, patients like Ray’s daughter will continue to face traumatic delays in their moment of need.
H4: What Needs to Happen Next
A regional catchment that has grown so quickly needs a mental health system built for scale. Leaders in the sector stress that effective treatment requires timely admission, safety and clear communication. Families want visibility on next steps, realistic wait times and someone to contact when follow-up care is delayed. Investments underway must translate into reduced waiting times and improved outcomes soon.
Policymakers hold firm that the upgrades will deliver a more humane, modern and responsive service. Clinicians say additional workforce and bed capacity must come alongside infrastructure. People in crisis deserve to be met with help, not waiting rooms and uncertainty.
Trending FAQ
Why are delays so high at these hospitals?
Emergency expansion works, extremely high demand and limited bed capacity contribute to severe wait times for mental health transfers.
How long are patients waiting?
Reports show waits of 36 hours or more. Some stay in emergency for days before transfer.
Are upgrades happening now?
Yes. Monash Medical Centre’s intensive care upgrades are complete. Casey Hospital’s are underway. Dandenong will begin in 2026.
What is being done to improve care outside hospitals?
New Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals, HOPE aftercare services and more community programs aim to prevent emergency presentations.
Is the situation improving yet?
Indicators suggest strain remains high. Families and staff are waiting to see the benefits of major investments currently being rolled out.
What can patients do during long wait times?
Emergency psychiatric staff manage care while patients wait. Support people can advocate for updates and ask staff about safety plans and expected timelines.
Who can access help in the community?
Residents in Casey, Dandenong and Cardinia can seek support from Monash Health community teams and new wellbeing hubs as they expand services.
Mental health requires fast action. When someone seeks help in crisis, every hour matters. Improving the pathway from emergency department to specialist support is crucial to patient safety and recovery. Victoria’s reforms are ambitious. For south east communities, success will be measured in shorter waits, calmer nights in emergency and more hopeful outcomes for every person who arrives in distress.
