More than 150 NSW psychiatrists threaten to resign over ongoing pay dispute, sparking fears of public health crisis

One state’s public mental health services could soon tip into crisis, as more than 150 psychiatrists threaten to quit their jobs over a rolling pay and staffing dispute.

Doctors with the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation have begun submitting resignations to NSW Health - threatening a mass exodus on January 21 without a new pay deal.

As of Tuesday, the union said 158 doctors had threatened to quit.

The government has offered a 10.5 per cent pay bump over three years, but the union is pushing for a one-year base pay increase of 25 per cent.

NewsWire understands public sector psychiatrists enjoy total pay packages of more than $400,000 and a 25 per cent bump would deliver some $88,000 in extra pay to most psychiatrists.

The government estimates the cost of the increase would be about $250m for 480 staff over the forward estimates.

The union’s doctors are also incensed about a proposed pilot “productivity trial” from January 1 next year to June 30.

In a letter sent to the union seen by NewsWire, the government says the pilot would cover three initiatives designed to “increase productivity and efficiencies to assist staff specialist psychiatrists in managing increasing demands in a period of national workforce shortage”.

Specifically, the pilot would try to remove duplication of clinical tasks, enhance administrative support and redesign the after-hours cover model.

But the union claims its doctors are already covering for some 140 unfilled positions and the productivity drive will only produce burnout and exhaustion.

“The proposed pilot will be the final straw for psychiatrists,” ASMOF NSW President Dr Nicholas Spooner said on Monday.

“They are asking for a lifeline and they have been told to find savings.

“Patients are the ones paying the price for this government’s failure to act.

“A productivity pilot won’t fix the massive unfilled psychiatry positions or reduce wait times for people in crisis.

“It’s a Band-Aid solution for a system on life support.”

Dr Spooner warned the state’s public mental health system was now at “breaking point”.

“Our members have told us they do not want to leave their jobs, and they do not want to leave the public system, but they do want to stand up for the safety of their patients, and they are standing strong for them.’

“If the NSW Government is serious about saving our public mental health system, it needs to stop stalling and act. We need safe staffing levels and real solutions — not experiments.

“Our public mental health system is at breaking point. The government’s inaction is a betrayal of its responsibility to the mental health and wellbeing of NSW patients.”

Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson called the potential psychiatrist walk a “deeply disappointing outcome”.

“To be clear – the resignation is not effective immediately and the NSW Government is implementing strategies to safeguard service continuity,” she told NewsWire on Tuesday afternoon.

“If you need help or mental support our hospitals and staff are here for you.

“We want to reassure the community that every effort is being made to minimise any impact this may have on their care.

Ms Jackson also defended the pilot trial.

“We recognise the pressures our psychiatrists face and are committed to creating a work environment that lets them focus on what they do best – providing specialist care to those who need it,” she said.

“This pilot isn’t about asking them to do more. It’s about addressing the issues they’ve raised, such as cutting duplicative admin to help free them up to focus on patient care.

“The trial aims to deliver better outcomes for the health system and patients and help improve effectiveness of our current psychiatry staff specialists.”