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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Adeshola Ore

Why a growing number of Victorians are using hospital ‘bed brokers’ to access inpatient mental health care

Mental Health Lily United States Victoria Australia Healthscope
Hospital bed
The brokerage service frees up psychiatrists from administrative work and allows them to spend more time treating patients, Dr Eliabeth Moore says. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

As the festive season approached in 2021, Lily* was hoping to find a bed at a mental health hospital in Melbourne.

Facing a relationship breakdown, housing instability and suicidal thoughts, she was desperate for help.

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