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Hospitals in crisis

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Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announce the measures on Wednesday.

PM throws states a $1.7 billion lifeline to save hospitals

The Albanese government seeks to prove its commitment to Medicare before the upcoming election – while holding out on a fresh five-year deal with the states.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos

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A leaked patient list from Westmead Hospital Emergency Department

Ninety hours in emergency: Leaked patient list reveals dire effects of psychiatrist crisis

Severely ill and distressed patients are waiting three and a half days in emergency for mental health beds that don’t exist in a shocking escalation of the state’s psychiatrist workforce crisis.

  • Kate Aubusson and Angus Thomson
Resigned NSW Health psychiatrist, Dr Christina Matthews and Dr Pramudie Gunaratne, the NSW chair of the Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

Wards closed, emergency departments under pressure as doctors walk off job

Resigning psychiatrists warn of worsening backlogs in emergency departments when mentally ill patients have nowhere to go due to ward closures.

  • Angus Thomson and Kate Aubusson
Pictured is Jessica Comish at her home on the south coast. Sunday19th January, 2025. She is pictured for Angus Thomson mental health story. Picture: Dylan Coker / The Sydney Morning Herald ...

On the worst day of Jessica’s life, the only doctor who could help her was on a screen

Two-thirds of psychiatrists in NSW public hospitals will quit this week. The impact for patients like Jessica Comish will be devastating in a system already strained.

  • Angus Thomson
The woman was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in a critical condition.

NSW hospitals are about to lose 200 doctors. Here’s how they’re preparing to cope

Leaked recordings show NSW public hospitals are preparing to lose some services under emergency settings akin to those seen during the COVID pandemic. 

  • Angus Thomson
The Triple Zero call from Soli Adams’ birth on the side of the Princes Highway in 2021.

Anja gave birth on the side of the road. Listen to the triple-zero call

Maternity hospital closures are forcing labouring women to travel hundreds of kilometres across “maternity deserts” to give birth.

  • Kate Aubusson
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NSW Health Minister Ryan Park issued a dire warning about the state’s triple zero line.

Health officials scramble with mass resignation of state’s doctors

A metropolitan Sydney hospital will struggle to treat patients after more than half of the state’s hospital psychiatrists tendered their resignations.

  • Cindy Yin
Composite image for Westmead Hospital story.

Sydney’s EDs face record demand. Here’s where patients wait the longest

Staff at Sydney’s busiest hospital say a lack of space is leaving some patients stuck in emergency for days, four years after a $900 million spend on more beds.

  • Angus Thomson
Equalisation and appropriation clauses can help ensure inheritances are shared as intended.

Don’t say the S-word out loud, but Australia secretly loves socialism

Our nation has long considered itself the land of the fair go. But as housing affordability and healthcare standards slip, are we kidding ourselves?

  • Gary Newman
Foreign doctors are being sold the dream of living near the Sydney Opera House or at Byron Bay as the state government desperately tries to fill hospital psychiatrist roles. 

‘Opera House on your doorstep’: Pitch for foreign doctors to plug NSW Health holes

NSW Health is offering “crisis” rates up to $3050 a day to doctors after more than half the state’s public hospital psychiatrists resigned.

  • Angus Thomson and Kate Aubusson

Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/topic/hospitals-in-crisis-1noz