New South Wales Mental Health Crisis: Over 60 Beds Closed Amid Mass Psychiatrist Resignations

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More than 60 mental health beds in public hospitals across New South Wales (NSW) have been temporarily closed due to a significant staffing crisis resulting from mass resignations of psychiatrists. The situation arose after over 200 psychiatrists expressed their intention to resign, citing the government's refusal to approve a requested 25% salary increase in one year as a key issue. This decision is seen as necessary to both attract new professionals and retain existing staff.

Recent correspondence from state mental health officials indicates that 43 psychiatrists have already left their positions, with numbers expected to rise. Health Minister Rose Jackson noted that while 99 medical professionals have delayed their resignations, the urgency of the situation remains high.

In response to the staffing shortages, hospitals have been instructed to limit psychiatric assessments, potentially leading to delays in patient care and longer hospital stays. Emergency procedures are being implemented to manage psychiatric patients, although concerns have been raised by a senior psychiatrist regarding the adequacy and safety of these backup plans.

To mitigate disruptions in mental health services, the NSW government has secured temporary locum psychiatrists, but concerns persist about the impact on patient care. Several hospitals are adapting their staffing models, which include measures such as involving non-psychiatric executives in decision-making during after-hours emergency situations, a practice that has raised alarms in the mental health community.

The NSW Industrial Relations Commission is scheduled to address the ongoing dispute in March. Meanwhile, various hospitals are in varying phases of adjusting bed capacity and services, with some units facing temporary closures and reallocation of beds to different departments.

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