Police have been ordered to stay with patients for however long it takes until stretched hospital staff can take over care. 

South Brisbane Chief Superintendent Bill Graham wrote to officers, pleading for them to exercise “patience” in this “trying time”.

Under an agreement struck between frontline officers, police are meant to be able to hand over mental health patients within 30 minutes of arriving at an emergency department.

Neil Breen was aghast police are being asked to shoulder the burden created by Queensland Health.

“It’s up to Queensland Health to fix the problem with your enormous budget and your over-bloated public service,” he said.

“That is Yvette D’Ath’s job as the Health Minister! That is her job!

“I find that police are too compliant, are too compliant. Their job’s to protect us, not to protect the will of the state government.”

Press PLAY below to hear Neil Breen’s comments in full 

Image: Nine News