Plea over ‘devastating’ walkout threat

Sydney: There’s a big issue brewing in New South Wales. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler is calling for a sit-down between the state government and public hospital psychiatrists. Why? Because there’s a serious threat of a mass walkout over pay disputes.

So far, around 200 out of 295 public hospital psychiatrists have handed in their resignations. The Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation of NSW is pushing for a hefty 25% pay increase, while the government is only offering 10.5% over three years. That’s a big gap!

The union claims that the pay differences with other states have led to a shortage of about 140 psychiatrists in NSW. It’s a tough situation, and negotiations are at a standstill. They’re set to meet at the Industrial Relations Committee soon, but it’s unclear if that will help.

Butler warned that if these psychiatrists go through with their mass resignations, it could have “devastating consequences” for the public health system. He’s really urging both sides to come together for the sake of the patients.

He expressed his respect for the hard work that public psychiatrists do, noting that they often earn less than they would in private practice. It’s a tough gig, and many are driven by a sense of mission to help others.

Over the weekend, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park also made a heartfelt plea to the psychiatrists, asking them not to resign. He emphasized the importance of staying at the negotiation table for the sake of the healthcare system and their patients.

However, Park mentioned that the government can’t meet their pay demands, which could mean a $90,000 increase for some. He acknowledged the critical work they do but said the state simply can’t afford such a raise right now.

As a backup plan, the government is looking to engage with the Commonwealth and private sectors to boost workforce capacity if needed. They’re also planning to enhance mental health services to manage any potential gaps.

Meanwhile, ASMOF NSW’s acting executive director, Ian Lisser, criticized the government for ignoring the issue for too long. He questioned why psychiatrists would want to work for NSW Health when they could earn significantly more elsewhere.

Lisser suggested that instead of pleading for psychiatrists to stay, the government should address the root issues and meet their reasonable demands for pay parity. It’s a tricky situation, and everyone’s hoping for a resolution soon.