Hospitals in New South Wales are facing a severe mental health crisis as over 200 psychiatrists resign, threatening the availability of essential treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The government's emergency response mirrors COVID-19 protocols, involving locum hiring and ambulance diversions.
Ambulances carrying patients needing urgent psychiatric care will be redirected to hospitals with available beds rather than the closest, and the NSW government will coordinate a crisis workforce to plug holes left by about 200 resigning doctors under emergency settings akin to those seen during the COVID pandemic.
Hospitals across Sydney and NSW are scrambling to prepare for the looming exodus of 203 of 295 public sector psychiatrists next week, after the Minns government refused to give them a pay rise to prevent them from fleeing the system for better wages on offer interstate. Deb Willcox, chief executive of the Sydney Local Health District, told staff on Monday that the government’s emergency response to the resignations was similar to that during the COVID pandemic.Staff at Sydney Local Health District, which comprises five inner-city hospitals including Royal Prince Alfred, Concord and Canterbury, were told in a briefing on Monday that the district was at grave risk of losing the ability to provide electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) “given the vast reduction in qualified practitioners to supervise the treatment”. The procedure involves a trained doctor delivering electric currents through the brain while the patient is under general anaesthetic, causing a brief seizure. It can be a life-saving and urgent treatment for patients in the grips of psychosis, catatonia and other treatment-resistant neurological disorders.Clinical director Dr Andrew McDonald told staff the service, based at Concord Hospital, would have “significant difficulty” remaining open, but existing patients regularly receiving the treatment would be prioritised.The service has capacity to treat 15 patients a week at the mental health unit, and also runs twice a week at Concord’s general operating theatres for patients who need closer anaesthetic supervision, said two psychiatrists working at the hospital who were not authorised to speak to the media.many people living in the community with complex mental health disorders needed regular “maintenance” ECT to function. “These are the people with the most severe mental illness in the community, and are also the most vulnerable, and in precipitating that relapse of that illness … their symptoms may become so severe that they may then be a risk to themselves or others,” they said.Sydney LHD chief executive Deb Willcox told staff that NSW Health would be centrally coordinating the hiring of locum psychiatrists and diverting ambulances to hospitals with beds available, instead of the nearest service. Willcox compared the arrangements to those in place during COVID, echoing NSW Health secretary Susan Pearce, whoacross hospitals and agencies had been “critical to our response to the pandemic”. Almost 50 psychiatrists have tendered their resignations from Sydney LHD, which offers services including acute emergency patients, early psychosis intervention, and maternal mental health
PSYCHIATRISTS RESIGNATIONS ECT CRISIS NSW
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.
ASX 200 LIVE: Australian shares open lower, DigiCo and HMC shares dropShares slip as iron ore prices fell overnight, sending miners lower. Investors sell DigiCo and HMC post IPO. Follow for more.
Read more »
WWF lists more than 200 new species discovered in South-East AsiaA soft furred hedgehog, a high-altitude crocodile newt and a keelback snake are some of the of the 234 new species to have been found in South-East Asia.
Read more »
More Than 200 Critically Endangered Red Handfish Bred in CaptivityOver 200 critically endangered red handfish have been successfully bred in a captive program in Tasmania since 2022. This promising development comes as scientists emphasize the need to manage and restore natural habitats for the species' long-term survival. The red handfish population in the wild is estimated to be around 100, with the last known wild population located south-east of Hobart. A marine heatwave last summer threatened the species, prompting an intervention to remove about 25 fish from the wild for safekeeping.
Read more »
Climate 200 puts Coalition in crosshairs, with only one Labor seat on election hitlistExclusive: Fundraising body backing candidates in suburbs and regions, particularly in Victoria and south-east Queensland
Read more »
Australia Reaches 200 in Fourth Test DayAustralia continues to build its lead against India on the fourth day of the Test match, reaching 200 for the innings. The play is slowing down as both teams seem content with a stalemate. Akash Deep struggles with his delivery but manages to strike Boland on the pads, leading to a review that ultimately goes in Australia's favor. India has lost its last review, making it unlikely Rohit Sharma will bat tonight.
Read more »
ASX 200 Dips on Wall Street Losses, Aussie Dollar WeakenedThe ASX 200 opened lower following similar losses on Wall Street, while the Aussie dollar weakened after a Treasury bond buy-up lowered yields. SuperRatings reported strong super fund performance for 2024. Miners slipped on lower copper prices, and tech stocks are projected to be robust in 2025 driven by the AI Revolution.
Read more »