Doctors push back on ‘pressure’ to open mental health beds at unsafe staffing levels
Bernadette Mulholland of SASMOA says doctors 'reluctantly' called on the union over their concerns about the unit's rapid expansion.
Doctors were allegedly pressured to admit more patients to a new mental health unit than could be safely staffed, leaving medical staff “visibly distressed and crying”.
A 24-bed mental health rehabilitation unit in Adelaide was opened to some fanfare in November last year as part of a $74 million upgrade.
However, 11 days after the doors were opened, doctors “reluctantly” called in union officials because they were concerned about staffing levels for the number of beds.
At the time, 12 beds were occupied at the unit at Noarlunga Hospital, but staff were directed by the local health network to open four more beds on one day, according to a report lodged with SafeWork SA.
