More Than Half of Sydney Health District Psychiatrists Resign, Service Concerns Grow

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The Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), which includes major facilities like the Royal Prince Alfred and Concord hospitals, has reported that over 50% of its staff psychiatrists have resigned, as revealed in leaked internal documents. The documents indicate that this mass resignation could compromise the district's ability to provide safe and effective mental health services, according to a risk assessment tool dated January 17.

While SLHD plans to maintain existing services without closing beds, there are concerns regarding the adequacy of staff coverage. According to an anonymous psychiatrist who spoke to The Guardian, relying on allied health and nursing staff to fill the gaps left by departing psychiatrists may not be safe, as these roles require different expertise. The general secretary of the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, Shaye Candish, echoed concerns about nurses taking on additional workloads without proper consultation or support.

Dr. Jackie Huber from the Australia and New Zealand Emergency Psychiatry Network warned that the ongoing psychiatrist shortages could exacerbate lengthy stays in emergency departments for psychiatric patients, leading to potentially severe consequences in mental health care.

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