“I can think of a case as recently as this week where an individual with bipolar was developing an acute manic relapse and tried to access his psychiatrist, but they had closed their books.

“His GP could also not find an appointment for a few days.”

Dr Simon Stafrace, chair of the Victorian branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), is describing a patient who ended up seeking psychiatric help at ED.

“The patient could ultimately not avoid going to the ED and [he] ended up being admitted to hospital on a compulsory order because things had gotten so much worse.”