00:00It's the state's largest mental health facility, but Cumberland Hospital is about to lose two
00:08entire wards after more than 200 public psychiatrists quit over a lack of pay.
00:14Even at the best of times there are significant wait times in emergency departments and it's
00:19looking like these are going to increase significantly.
00:22The ABC understands more than 70 beds will close temporarily in the Western Sydney Local
00:27Health District, but it says 84 beds will open there as part of contingency plans, including
00:3346 at private hospitals.
00:38Other health workers have been asked to step in, including nurses and midwives who are
00:41fighting their own battle for a pay rise.
00:44Their union has pushed back, advising members not to perform work outside their scope or
00:49additional duties related to the resignations.
00:52This is not the job of nurses and midwives in New South Wales to clean up the mess that
00:56this men's labour government has put us in.
00:59The government declined a request for an interview, but said previously workers would be consulted
01:03comprehensively before any tasks were delegated.
01:07At the end of the day it's the patients who suffer, it's also the taxpayers who suffer
01:11when locums are being paid over $3,000 a day.
01:14This week Prachi Brumbutt marked 15 years with New South Wales Health, next week will
01:19be her last.
01:20I feel like I have had no choice but to move to another public mental health system.
01:26She's moving to Townsville in Queensland where psychiatrists earn 30% more.
01:31It is a very difficult decision, I have family, friends, I love my city, I love Sydney.
01:38Queensland Health has seized on the pay dispute, taking out ads in Sydney newspapers, spruiking
01:43the state's sunshine and superior salaries, hoping to poach psychiatrists its southern
01:48neighbour can't afford to lose.
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