Psychiatrists warn of ‘severe consequences’ after Victoria cuts funding for hospital placements

St Vincent’s hospital in Melbourne. The Victorian government’s reduced funding for junior doctor roles on psychiatric wards is at odds with a royal commission recommendation, say trainees. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

Victorian psychiatrist trainees have sounded the alarm over a reduction in government funding for junior doctors in mental health wards, warning it will have “severe consequences”.

Having junior doctors completing mandatory stints in public hospital psychiatry wards was a recommendation by Victoria’s landmark mental health royal commission to tackle workforce shortages. The state has a target of 70% of junior doctors doing a psychiatrist stint, and has funded some of these positions since 2021.