Hospital wards in Sydney are closing or reducing beds as the NSW government grapples with the mass resignation of over 200 psychiatrists. The resignations began on Tuesday, prompting an expedited arbitration process between the government and the doctors' union. However, the five-day hearing is not scheduled until March 17, leaving the public health system facing a two-month shortfall. Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson expressed confidence in the remaining staff's ability to manage the situation, but warned of potential disruptions and longer wait times.
Hospital wards across Sydney are closing or having the number of beds slashed as the NSW government warned it would not find a resolution to the mass resignation of psychiatrists for at least two months.
Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson said she was confident remaining mental health staff would be able to plug holes left by resigning doctors. Jackson said the government did not know how many of the 205 psychiatrists had worked their last day, but 25 had since rescinded their resignations and 81 had delayed.
At Westmead Hospital, beds in the mother and baby, medical psychiatry, and older persons mental health units would be temporarily closed, while mental health beds in the emergency department would be taken over by a drug and alcohol toxicology team liaising with a psychiatry consultant.Loy said NSW Health was seeking a private hospital provider to offset some of the bed losses.
Psychiatrist Resignations Hospital Closures Mental Health Care NSW Health Emergency Departments
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