Doctors refused to admit patients in mental health unit conflict
Clinicians refused to open more mental health beds despite “enormous pressure” just after a new southern suburbs unit was opened last November, with SafeWork forced to step in.
Doctors were too understaffed to open new mental health beds at the brand new Noarlunga facility as quickly as they were told, leaving staff “visibly distressed and crying”, a report lodged with SafeWork SA has revealed.
The report, released on Wednesday, said doctors at Noarlunga Hospital’s Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit refused to open more than 12 beds – despite having capacity for 24 beds –just after its official opening in November last year because they did not have the staffing resources to administer appropriate care.
The report was lodged by the SA Salaried Medical Officers Association (SASMOA) – the union representing the doctors – who said it was “strange” that the hospital administration would not listen to its clinicians.
“The administration, particularly in the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, were pushing back, which was unusual,” Chief Industrial Officer Bernadette Mulholland said.
“When you’re opening new mental health beds, it’s normally a staggered and gradual increase, because with a new facility, you want to make sure that you’re getting the right patients, that people are comfortable, that staff is sufficient.”
Mulholland claimed “enormous pressure” was placed on the doctors to take on more patients which caused great distress on top of an already demanding deadline.
“Staff had been on sick leave due to the stress and demand in getting the service ready in time for the government’s opening on 11 November 2025,” the report found.
You might like
It found: “Excessive hours worked by staff in the lead-up to this opening deadline.”
Mulholland said medical staff felt they “had no choice” but to get the union and SafeWork involved just 11 days after the mental health unit opened.
“The doctors that we were representing really wanted to work with the local health network to get it right, they didn’t want it escalating,” she said.
“They really they knew the importance of the unit and the opening of the unit and the opening of the beds, and they really wanted to work with the administration to get it right.
“They reluctantly came to SASMOA. It wasn’t like they wanted our involvement, but they felt they had no other choice.”
A spokesperson said SafeWork SA contacted the union following the report being lodged, and “it was determined that no enforcement action would be taken at the time” because discussions were ongoing between the union and the hospital administration.
Liberal health spokesperson Heidi Girolamo said mental health doctors and nurses deserved better.
“What’s most concerning is that this government deadline seems to have been more important than developing a safe service for patients and staff, and that doctors were pressured to admit patients to the unit before they were ready to treat them,” Girolamo said.
Stay informed, daily
“Staff should not jeopardise their own mental health to meet an imaginary deadline to suit a political agenda.”
Liberal Industrial Relations spokesperson Ben Hood said it was “a sad irony that the mental health of our medical and nursing staff was put at risk for the optics of opening a mental health service”.
Mulholland said she could not comment on what government pressure the hospital administration was under, but the system is “under incredible strain”.
The beds now open do not pose a risk to patient health, Mulholland said, and the union was meeting administration staff and doctors next week to ensure recruitment was ongoing.
“We’ve got the seniority of staff now, and it’s a fully functioning service and unit that people feel safe to work in,” she said.
In a statement, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network Chief Executive Kerrie Mahon said SafeWork SA had “not made any findings of contraventions of the Work Health Safety Act”.
“The Noarlunga Mental Health Rehab Unit has always been carefully and appropriately staffed, in line with its model of care,” she said.
“Importantly, the opening of the Unit was scheduled in line with normal project timelines and in line with advice from SALHN’s infrastructure team. At no time was the project fast-tracked.
“We are committed to providing a safe environment for our staff and consumers and will continue to work with SafeWork SA and SASMOA in response to any enquiries.”
Acting Health Minister Blair Boyer said the government makes “no apologies for building and opening hundreds of much-needed extra hospital beds”.
“The 24-bed Noarlunga Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit was opened when it was ready and the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network CEO has confirmed it has been appropriately staffed from day one,” he said.
“These dedicated mental health beds are making an important difference to some of our most vulnerable South Australians.”
