The NSW public mental health system faces a severe crisis as over 200 staff specialist psychiatrists, more than half the workforce, resign due to understaffing and burnout. The government's offered pay rise is deemed insufficient by the psychiatrists, highlighting the urgent need for funding and support for mental health services in the state.
The resignation of NSW transport minister Jo Haylen after she used a taxpayer-funded driver for a birthday lunch has sparked a deeper crisis in the state's public mental health system. More than 200 staff specialist psychiatrists, more than half the NSW workforce, submitted resignations late last year, demanding a 25 per cent pay rise to address staffing shortages and burnout.
The government has offered a 10 per cent 'onerous duties' allowance to psychiatrists who stay, on top of the wider public sector pay rise of 10.5 per cent over three years, which the psychiatrists deem insufficient. Health Minister Rose Jackson acknowledges the system is 'under stress', but insists contingency measures, including using private hospitals, ensure patients receive high-quality care. However, staff at Cumberland, the state's largest mental health hospital, paint a grim picture. Multiple mental health units, including an early-intervention unit and one for older patients, have closed. The mental health assessment centre is also shut, forcing patients who urgently need treatment to be redirected to an already overwhelmed emergency department. This crisis is not just about pay. Resigning psychiatrists describe a sense of 'moral injury', saying they can't continue working in a system that cannot provide adequate care for patients experiencing suicidal thoughts, psychosis and severe eating disorders
Mental Health Crisis Resignations Psychiatrists NSW Budget Healthcare
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mass Exodus of Psychiatrists Threatens NSW Public Mental HealthA growing mental health crisis in NSW is escalating as 203 out of 295 public psychiatrists have resigned, leaving the state's mental health system on the brink of collapse. The mass exodus is attributed to chronic understaffing, under-resourcing, and a significant pay gap compared to neighboring states. The article highlights the dire situation faced by patients and the difficult working conditions for psychiatrists.
Read more »
200 NSW Psychiatrists to Resign, Threatening Mental Health SystemOver 200 psychiatrists in New South Wales, Australia, are resigning due to a pay dispute with the government. The Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation (Asmof) is demanding a 25% pay increase, citing a 30% gap compared to other states. The NSW government has offered a 10.5% increase, arguing that a larger raise would set a precedent for other medical specialists. The mass resignation, scheduled for January 21st, is feared to significantly impact the state's mental health system and leave vulnerable individuals without adequate care.
Read more »
NSW Mental Health System at Breaking Point: Psychiatrists Sound the AlarmA group of psychiatrists in New South Wales are speaking out about the dire state of the state's public mental health system, describing it as dysfunctional, broken, and in dire need of urgent change.
Read more »
NSW Mental Health Crisis: Government Turns to Private Hospitals Amidst Mass Psychiatrist ResignationsThe NSW government is facing a severe mental health crisis as over 200 psychiatrists are set to resign, leaving a significant gap in the public mental health system. In response, the government is exploring options to engage with private hospitals to address the potential shortfall in care.
Read more »
NSW Mental Health Crisis: Psychiatrists to Resign Over Moral Injury and Workforce ShortagesA looming crisis in New South Wales' mental health system is unfolding as overworked psychiatrists are pushed to their limits. Faced with a severe workforce shortage and a 25% pay disparity, they are prepared to resign en masse, warning of a potential collapse of the public mental health system.
Read more »
Mental health crisis looms in NSW as psychiatrists prepare to walk outSarah Ferguson presents Australia's premier daily current affairs program, delivering agenda-setting public affairs journalism and interviews that hold the powerful to account. Plus political analysis from Laura Tingle.
Read more »