Bed shortage met with 'virtual' solution

Five "virtual beds" have been created at Halifax-area psychiatric wards to deal with a bed shortage for patients with serious mental illnesses.

The plan was developed after people with mental illnesses were showing up at emergency rooms needing hospitalization, but there was no place to put them.

Now someone gets admitted to a "virtual bed" if there's no other bed available, says an official with the Capital District Health Authority.