The NSW mental health system is about to be stretched to the limit with close to 200 public hospital psychiatrists leaving their roles. To try to prevent the mass exodus, the government's offering them a special 10% allowance. But it's also seeking an urgent hearing in the Industrial Relations Commission.
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00:00This is the reality for some of the state's mental health patients.
00:06Gordon Stewart spent two nights on the floor of the emergency department in Coffs Harbour
00:10after attempting to take his own life.
00:13With no buzzer, no monitors, it was quite distressing to find my 72-year-old father
00:18laying on the floor.
00:20Doctors say the mental health system's in a catastrophic decline, with nearly a third
00:24of psychiatrist positions unfilled.
00:26Dr Catherine Drew is among about 200 who are now quitting in protest.
00:30Our patients are not receiving the care that we believe would be appropriate.
00:36To recruit new staff and stop existing specialists going interstate, psychiatrists want a 25
00:42per cent single year pay rise.
00:44The government's offering just 10.5 per cent over three.
00:48But it's also offering all staff psychiatrists a 10 per cent onerous duties allowance.
00:53And it's seeking urgent arbitration in the Industrial Relations Commission.
00:57Giving a commitment that the finding of that independent umpire, the government will accept.
01:02That I think is a very reasonable path forward, that is clear.
01:07The government plans to rely on casual or locum doctors to fill the gaps left by mass
01:11resignations, paying them $3,000 per day to avoid meeting the demands of existing staff.
01:18We are incredibly concerned that this government is choosing to waste so much public money
01:24and throw patients, doctors and the entire mental health system under the bus, simply
01:31to save face.
01:32The government's been contacting the more than 200 psychiatrists who've tendered their
01:36resignations, asking them to reconsider.
01:39It says some have changed their minds, others have delayed their decisions, but it's refusing
01:44to provide the numbers.
01:47Doctors say the effect of the resignations may not be noticed for some days, but they'll
01:51be felt across the public hospital system.