Latest news with #Asmof
The Guardian
30-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Psychiatrists warn new mental health unit at Westmead could be an ‘empty shell' as workforce dispute drags on
Construction of a new mental health facility set to become the largest in New South Wales began on Wednesday in western Sydney, but psychiatrists say it will be an 'empty shell' until the issues within the state's workforce are resolved. The peak body for psychiatrists has said the $540m Westmead integrated mental health complex is likely to suffer the same fate as several recently opened facilities in western Sydney, which are only able to operate at less than half the available beds due to lack of staff. Over a third of the permanent public sector psychiatrist positions were already vacant in the state before the remaining specialist doctors resigned en masse in a high-profile dispute with the state government which remains in arbitration before the NSW Industrial Relations Commission. The doctors union, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation (Asmof), representing psychiatrists, is arguing for a special levy to increase pay by 25%. The union claims the boost will stem the flow of specialist doctors leaving the state's public system, which is caught in a vicious cycle where remaining staff are left to pick up the slack of the understaffed system, meaning more suffer moral injury and leave. Rose Jackson, the NSW mental health minister, on Wednesday said the 'state of the art' facility at Westmead would have 250 to 300 beds to be able to care 'across the continuum from those experiencing severe, acute mental illness, eating disorders, adolescents, older people, to those who are experiencing situational distress, anxiety, depression. It's all here under the one roof in an integrated complex. 'We don't want people experiencing mental distress shunted away in small, isolated facilities. We want to bring their care into an integrated network of health facilities,' Jackson said. The hospital is due to open in 2027, Jackson said, 'if the weather goes our way'. Sign up for the Afternoon Update: Election 2025 email newsletter Dr Pramudie Gunaratne, the chair of the NSW branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, said that 'as it stands, the fate of the new Westmead unit will be the same as other newly built units, it will either remain empty once built, or it will run at only a fraction of its capacity'. Gunaratne said at the new facility at Campbelltown, only two of six beds are open at the mental health intensive care unit (MHICU) while only eight of the 16 beds are open in its high-risk civil rehab unit, including the only female high-risk civil rehab beds in the state – all due to lack of staff. 'None of the female beds are open so there are no high-risk female beds in NSW. Currently the waiting time for patients accepted to this unit is over 6 months,' Gunaratne said. At the new forensic facility at Blacktown, completed and opened in September, which is a 44-bed unit, only 16 beds are open due to lack of staff, she said. 'Until we sort out crisis in our mental health workforce in NSW, opening such new units will be a waste of time and money. 'Furthermore, dangling a mirage-like new unit we know can't fully function, mocks the anguish of those patients and their families who are crying out for proper care.' Ian Lisser, Asmof's manager of industrial services, said: 'Emergency departments are overwhelmed. Patients in crisis are waiting up to 90 hours for care. Unless the government takes urgent steps to attract and retain psychiatrists, this new complex will be an empty shell.' Asked about the workforce shortage at a press conference, the premier, Chris Minns, said the government believed it would have enough mental health professionals, 'whether it's psychiatrists or others that work in the system' and was now recruiting, paying what it regards as competitive salaries. Minns said the government had come to the table with the 'best offer for psychiatrists and doctors and public sector workers in this state for over a decade' and it would accept the decision of the independent umpire (the IRC). 'What we can't do is hand over a blank cheque.' The health minister, Ryan Park, denied the government was investing in bricks and mortar and not the workforce, saying 'the biggest challenge that I see is not new buildings, [it] is in staffing. That remains the thing that keeps me up at night.'
The Guardian
19-03-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Sydney hospital's plan to increase mental health beds stymied by psychiatrist shortage, court hears
A Sydney hospital could not follow through on a significant expansion of its mental health beds due to shortages of psychiatrists, a court has heard. Dr Brett Oliver, director of medical services for the South Western Sydney Local Health District, appeared on Wednesday as a witness for NSW Health on day three of its arbitration with the doctors' union in Sydney's industrial relations commission (IRC) court. The Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation (Asmof) is seeking a special levy to increase its psychiatrist members' pay by 25% to stem the flow of specialist doctors leaving the public system. In January, 206 psychiatrists in New South Wales threatened to resign: at least 62 have resigned, while others await the IRC outcome. Under cross-examination by Asmof's barrister, Thomas Dixon, Oliver confirmed that Campbelltown hospital had a plan to increase its 66 beds for psychiatric patients to over 100. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The expansion was meant to accomodate increased mental health presentations due to the district's expanded population but could not go ahead due to shortages of psychiatrist staff, Oliver said. The hospital had also been unable to use extra adolescent mental health beds while an old age mental health unit's opening was delayed due to staff shortages, he said. Oliver confirmed the district had been using visiting medical officers (VMO) to cover shortages of permanent staff specialists. The district's clinical director for old age psychiatry was previously a staff specialist employed full time, but since transitioning to a VMO contract, had worked 0.8 or 0.6 full-time equivalent (FTE), Oliver said. He agreed that fractional appointment of a VMO was 'fairly typical'. VMOs are senior doctors who provide services on a contractual basis. Asmof's case has repeatedly emphasised the difference between VMOs' duties – focused on clinical care – and permanent staff specialists who the union says for a lower hourly rate of pay also contribute to a hospital's leadership, safety and quality of work, and the education and training of junior doctors. But Dr Justine Harris, NSW Health's chief medical workforce advisor, also appearing as a witness for NSW Health on Wednesday, disagreed under cross-examination by Dixon that there were differences in the type and quality of work undertaken by staff specialists compared with locums and VMOs. Since January, 72 permanent staff specialist psychiatrists had transitioned to VMO roles across NSW. Alfa D'Amato, NSW Health's chief financial officer, said the government had not yet costed the replacement of permanent staff specialists by VMOs. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion Dixon put to D'Amato that NSW Health spent $97.4m to fund 196.4 FTE VMO positions in 2023-24, working out at close to $500,000 per FTE doctor, as opposed to paying $119m for 300 FTE permanent staff specialists, or $396,000 per doctor. Asked if VMOs were more expensive, D'Amato said it 'seems the case', but said it was necessary to account for additional costs, such as staff specialists being paid annual leave. Dixon highlighted that in 2023-24, NSW Health additionally spent $37m on commission fees paid to locum agencies, which a parliamentary inquiry had revealed was a $20m increase on the prior year. D'Amato said VMOs took on 'additional work', but when pressed by Dixon, agreed he had no knowledge of whether VMOs provided additional work above and beyond that of staff specialists. Dixon put to another witness for NSW Health, industrial relations director Melissa Collins, that VMO hours logged in the system were overinflated, citing evidence of a VMO being paid for 10 hours when they had only worked eight. Collins said any uplift in hours could have been to meet a rate set in a verbal agreement between a district and a doctor within an individual contract. The hearing, which is scheduled to run until Friday, continues.
The Guardian
16-03-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Australia news live: Chalmers says Cyclone Alfred to add $1.2bn to budget deficit; body of missing six-year-old girl found in bushland
Natasha May In a statement released ahead of the arbitration beginning this morning in Sydney, the president of the doctor's union, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation (Asmof), Dr. Nick Spooner said: My psychiatrist colleagues are burnt out, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. They are dedicated to providing the best care for their patients, but they cannot provide safe care under these conditions. The solution to this crisis is not complicated. It's about valuing psychiatrists, paying them fairly, and ensuring that NSW has enough doctors to provide the care patients deserve. The Minns government has a choice—fix the problem or let the system collapse completely.' As part of the arbitration proceedings, ASMOF will call on the Minns government to act immediately to fix the crisis by urgently recruiting additional psychiatrists to fill vacancies, fully funding training and registration fees to attract new doctors, and providing a 25% pay increase for psychiatrists to stem the flow of doctors leaving NSW. They also want to see the establishment of a formal Psychiatry Workforce Committee to oversee staffing and recruitment and implement a structured dispute resolution process to improve working conditions. Share Natasha May The doctors union is warning the NSW government's refusal to take action on the psychiatrists workforce crisis is putting lives at risk, as the matter goes to arbitration today. Psychiatrists resigned en masse from staff specialist positions last month after the government rejected their proposed solution of a special levy to increase their pay by 25%, similar to that which emergency doctors received in 2015. With 140 vacancies unfilled before the mass resignation, doctors claimed the rise in pay would stem the cycle of specialist doctors leaving the public system because of the untenable workload for those left, and the moral injury felt being unable to give patients the quality of care they want to. The NSW government asked the Industrial Relations Commission to urgently intervene in January, with the date for expedited arbitration a full bench of the commission to hear the dispute set from 17-21 March. Of the 206 who intended to resign, 62 have followed through with resignations but many more have either deferred their resignations or transferred to visiting medical officer contracts whilst they await the outcome of the IRC process. Share Good morning. Politicians have been warned against 'election sweeteners' as economists flag growing fiscal holes in Australia's budget, AAP reports. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has started feeding commitments to the public ahead of the 25 March budget and is expected to announce disaster recovery funds for Queensland and northern NSW communities battered by ex-tropical cyclone Alfred. The cyclone is projected to add at least $1.2bn to the upcoming budget, on top o f $11.6bn blocked out for disaster support, new figures show. It has already dealt a billion-dollar hit to GDP, could wipe one quarter of a percentage point from quarterly growth, caused the economy to shed 12 million work hours, and could put upwards pressure on inflation. In New South Wales, the body of a six-year-old girl has been found in bushland north of Nowra after as wide scale search and rescue operation was launched on Sunday. Inquiries are underway. Still in NSW, the premier, Chris Minns, has announced a mini cabinet reshuffle, triggered by the resignation of former transport minister Jo Haylen last month. Interim transport minister John Graham will permanently remain in the portfolio, and Lismore MP Janelle Saffin will be promoted to a ministerial position. And arbitration over a mass-resignation of psychiatrists in NSW over industrial disputes will begin today – more on that to come. I'm Caitlin Cassidy, let's get into it. Share
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Australian hospital manager calls junior doctors ‘a workforce of clinical marshmellows' in email stuff-up
A local health district in New South Wales has apologised after an administrator accidentally sent an email to junior doctors calling them a 'workforce of clinical marshmellows [sic]'. The email, seen by Guardian Australia, was sent by a medical administration manager at a hospital who appears to be complaining about a doctor's response to a rostering issue. The misfired message starts: 'Seriously! 'I wonder if any of them realise that they are a doctor and that this is what happens. Oh that's right … I forgot. Life style [sic] before career,' the message continued. 'God help us in the future. We are going to have a workforce of clinical marshmellows!' The union representing doctors, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation (Asmof), called the message 'tone-deaf' and 'unacceptable', particularly 'when NSW is facing a healthcare workforce crisis'. A spokesperson for the relevant local health district said: 'Junior medical officers (JMOs) work hard and are a vital part of our health service, and we sincerely apologise for the hurt and frustration caused by a recent email that was circulated. 'We are committed to fostering a workplace where junior medical officers feel valued and respected. The email did not reflect this commitment or our values, and we have written to the relevant JMOs to apologise. The matter is being addressed appropriately,' they email sparked furore and memes on online doctor forums. JMOs include interns who have just completed their university medical training and are in their first year of being practising doctors, and residents who have completed internships and hold a general registration. On a Reddit forum for junior doctors, one commenter shared a joke job advertisement for the position of 'clinical marshmallow', drawing several comments that it was 'unfortunately a very common attitude amongst HR/admin towards JMOs'. The Asmof executive director, Andrew Holland, said the email was 'not only offensive but reveals a deep disconnect between hospital administration and frontline staff who are working under immense pressure'. 'They deserve respect and support, not ridicule from those who should be advocating for them,' Holland said in a statement. 'At a time when NSW is facing a healthcare workforce crisis, these comments are not just tone-deaf – they are damaging, demoralising, and unacceptable. 'Junior doctors enter this profession to care for people, but they cannot do their jobs if they are belittled and dismissed by their own employers.' In April, NSW Health settled a class action brought by junior doctors for almost $230m, claiming to have been underpaid in relation to issues such as overtime and meal breaks. Experts hoped the suit would change a culture where junior doctors do not complain and instead can protect time off for their personal lives.
The Guardian
31-01-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Accidental email calling doctors in NSW ‘a workforce of clinical marshmellows' sparks furore
A local health district in New South Wales has apologised after an administrator accidentally sent an email to junior doctors calling them a 'workforce of clinical marshmellows [sic]'. The email, seen by Guardian Australia, was sent by a medical administration manager at a hospital who appears to be complaining about a doctor's response to a rostering issue. The misfired message starts: 'Seriously! 'I wonder if any of them realise that they are a doctor and that this is what happens. Oh that's right … I forgot. Life style [sic] before career,' the message continued. 'God help us in the future. We are going to have a workforce of clinical marshmellows!' The union representing doctors, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers' Federation (Asmof), called the message 'tone-deaf' and 'unacceptable', particularly 'when NSW is facing a healthcare workforce crisis'. A spokesperson for the relevant local health district said: 'Junior medical officers (JMOs) work hard and are a vital part of our health service, and we sincerely apologise for the hurt and frustration caused by a recent email that was circulated. 'We are committed to fostering a workplace where junior medical officers feel valued and respected. The email did not reflect this commitment or our values, and we have written to the relevant JMOs to apologise. The matter is being addressed appropriately,' they said. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The email has sparked furore and memes on online doctor forums. JMOs include interns who have just completed their university medical training and are in their first year of being practising doctors, and residents who have completed internships and hold a general registration. On a Reddit forum for junior doctors, one commenter shared a joke job advertisement for the position of 'clinical marshmallow', drawing several comments that it was 'unfortunately a very common attitude amongst HR/admin towards JMOs'. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion The Asmof executive director, Andrew Holland, said the email was 'not only offensive but reveals a deep disconnect between hospital administration and frontline staff who are working under immense pressure'. 'They deserve respect and support, not ridicule from those who should be advocating for them,' Holland said in a statement. 'At a time when NSW is facing a healthcare workforce crisis, these comments are not just tone-deaf – they are damaging, demoralising, and unacceptable. 'Junior doctors enter this profession to care for people, but they cannot do their jobs if they are belittled and dismissed by their own employers.' In April, NSW Health settled a class action brought by junior doctors for almost $230m, claiming to have been underpaid in relation to issues such as overtime and meal breaks. Experts hoped the suit would change a culture where junior doctors do not complain and instead can protect time off for their personal lives.
