NSW psychiatric care struggling due to low pay

Psychiatric care in New South Wales (NSW) is facing serious challenges, with at least 10 hospitals at risk of losing accreditation to train junior doctors. A court hearing revealed that poor pay and working conditions are discouraging junior doctors from pursuing psychiatry in NSW compared to Victoria. The Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation is seeking a 25% pay increase for psychiatrists to address staff shortages and retain specialists. Evidence presented in court highlighted a significant decline in the number of trainees in NSW, with concerns about the quality of training due to inadequate supervision. Emergency accreditation visits are planned for several hospitals in response to complaints from trainees about workforce gaps. If standards are not met, these hospitals could lose their accreditation, further jeopardizing the training system for future psychiatrists in the state.