
Mass Resignation Of NSW Public Psychiatrists Continues

New South Wales health officials are in crisis after more than 200 of the state’s 295 public hospital psychiatrists have submitted their resignations, amidst stalled pay disputes and a broken mental health system.
The Minns government has offered a pay increase of 10.5 per cent over three years, less than half of the 25 per cent being sought by doctors. Public psychiatrists say they’re being paid 30 per cent less than their interstate colleagues, with many leaving for the private sector.
Health Minister Ryan Park says that the pay increase is impractical, and begged doctors to withdraw their resignations.
“Don’t do this to patients. Don’t do this to the healthcare system that I know you love and support. Don’t do this to your colleagues who I know you value and trust.”
The Sydney Morning Herald found last month that the government was offering locum psychiatrists “crisis” rates of up to $3050 a day in order to fill the gaps left by resignations.
Resignations would take effect on January 21, and would have an unprecedented ripple effect across the entire healthcare system, as well as social services, criminal justice systems, and any other sectors that require psychiatrists in their work.
Park said the government is exploring a number of contingency plans, and are considering approaching the federal government and private sector for additional workforce, establishing a Mental Health Operations Centre, and engaging police and ambulances.
Acting executive director of the union representing hospital doctors, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (ASMOF), Ian Lisser, said psychiatrists had little choice but to resign, having been working in a “crumbling system for months.”
“Instead of dealing with the underlying problem of staff retention and attraction, the Minister for Health seems happy to throw mental health patients, the psychiatry workforce, and doctors in training in NSW under the bus.”
“The fact is, psychiatrists are at the table and have been for some time,” Lisser said. “The NSW government has consistently refused to budge on a 3 per cent pay offer when there is a 30 per cent gap when compared with the pay other psychiatrists receive in other states.”
RANZCP warns patients could face serious consequences if unable to access healthcare
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists have said in a statement that finding a solution is a matter of urgency, and implore the government to work with the doctor’s union.
“The loss of over 200 senior psychiatrists from within the health system will significantly impact people with acute and critical mental health care needs. These are some of the most vulnerable people in our community and disruption to their care will have wide ranging impacts for them, their families, and carers.
“The workforce shortages of psychiatrists will force patients to seek urgent care from other health providers and emergency departments, which are already stressed and at capacity. We are concerned that some people will find themselves in the judicial system as a consequence of lack of access to health care.”
They also highlighted that concerns about inadequate staffing levels were raised two years ago, with the government failing to address the issues in that timeframe.
The government will meet with the union in the Industrial Relations Commission on Tuesday.