The family of an 84-year-old woman say she was forced to lie on the floor in a regional emergency department for two hours because she was in too much pain to sit in a chair and there were no beds available.

Key points: Neil MacLachlan's mother was taken to Geraldton Regional Hospital in acute pain

Neil MacLachlan's mother was taken to Geraldton Regional Hospital in acute pain She couldn't sit down in the emergency room, so had to lie on the floor

She couldn't sit down in the emergency room, so had to lie on the floor The hospital had five alert situations last year where it ran out of beds

Neil MacLachlan's mother, who did not wish to be identified, was taken to Geraldton Regional Hospital on Thursday by ambulance, but was unable to sit in a chair due to acute kidney pain.

When Mr MacLachlan asked for a bed for his mother he was told there were none available, but was given some pillows and blankets.

"She was very grateful to be on that floor," he said.

"When she was seated she was doubled over — if I was not standing in front of her she would have fell out of the chair.

"My thoughts were to make her as comfortable as possible.

"We are not impatient people [but] they could have at least offered her a bed because that was what her immediate need was."

After two hours, Mr MacLachlan said a nurse offered them a bed in a corridor.

In 2018, Geraldton Regional Hospital issued an alert five times when it ran out of beds. ( ABC News: Sebastian Neuweiler )

The woman said, despite being on the floor, lying in the corridor was better than being seated in pain.

"I was relieved actually," she said. "It was not the most comfortable but I was relieved to be able to lay there as I couldn't sit in a chair."

She said she would not make a formal complaint against the hospital, but hoped her situation would serve as a message.

"It is very hard for them," she said.

"They are under their own pressures and I suppose I understand that.

"They seem like they need more help, more beds."

Health Minister issues apology

Health Minister Roger Cook later responded directly to Mr MacLachlan via a post he wrote about the situation on Facebook, admitting it was unacceptable.

WA Health Minister Roger Cook admitted the situation at Geraldton Hospital was unacceptable. ( ABC News: Eliza Laschon )

"I have just spoken with your mother on the phone and apologised unreservedly as Minister for Health," he wrote.

"The situation your mother found herself in at Geraldton Hospital [Thursday] is appalling and unacceptable.

Mr Cook promised he would take the issue up with the hospital's managers.

"I have requested an urgent meeting on this matter with the acting director general of Health and the chief executive of the WA Country Health Service to find out what happened and to ensure it doesn't happen again," he said.

"Although it was a busy day in the emergency department, beds were available in the hospital at the time of this incident and I note the family of the elderly lady involved have praised the hardworking staff for the excellent ongoing care they provide."

A spokeswoman for the WA Country Health Service said all presentations to the Geraldton Health Campus emergency department were triaged in order of clinical urgency.

"I can confirm all presentations to the hospital were treated in line with their level of priority," she said.

"In situations where the emergency department is busy and a patient isn't able to sustain sitting or standing, we will always provide a trolley as soon as possible.

"That aside, we are currently reviewing the circumstances surrounding this incident and have been in contact with the patient to apologise unreservedly."

Five alerts issued after hospital filled up

The WA Government has committed $73.3 million to upgrade the Geraldton Regional Hospital, but Mr Cook said construction would not begin on this project until 2020.

In 2018 the hospital went into code yellow on five occasions because there were not enough beds, which meant more than 400 elective surgeries had to be rescheduled or cancelled.

Mr MacLachlan said there was a clear need for more beds at the hospital.

"We need a system which gives appropriate priority to the elderly," he said.

"And a facility [that] can accommodate the needs of its service area."