THE NSW Government will today (January 20) meet with representatives of the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation and the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists to further discuss the mass resignation of about 200 public health psychiatrists in New South Wales.

The Government met with representatives of both organisations late last week and will resume talks today.

Psychiatrists across New South Wales have stated their intention to resign, with the earliest effective date also today, January 20.

The walk-out is in relation to a claim about conditions of employment.

The psychiatrists, citing chronic understaffing and low pay, are asking for a 25 per cent base pay increase over one year.

The state government offered a 10.5 per cent increase over three years.

The resignations will have a significant impact on the public health system, including mental health services, social services, and criminal justice systems.

The NSW Government reiterated its position that it is not possible to negotiate with former employees, it is vital psychiatrists do not resign and stay at the table to work with the government on a path forward.

On Tuesday, January 21, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation and the NSW Government will return to the Industrial Relations Commission following a directive by the IRC.

Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan said in a media statement last week, patients are the ones who will suffer if the mass resignation eventuates.

More than 200 of the state’s 260 psychiatrists, including 11 from Hunter New England Health, plan to walk off the job. Mr Moylan said psychiatrists in New South Wales are currently the lowest paid in Australia, adding the industrial unrest will have the biggest impact on patients in the bush.

“Access to critical mental health care in regional NSW is already hard enough and the loss of specialists will be incredibly damaging for people who rely on these services,” Mr Moylan said.

“We know people from regional and rural areas are particularly vulnerable and the loss of these services will put them further at risk.

“The Minns Labor Government needs to sit down with their psychiatrists and resolve this problem as soon as possible.

“There will be a middle ground here, they just need to work hard to find it.

“Otherwise, it will be the patients, particularly in regional areas, who will suffer,” he said.