Michael Roff, CEO, Australian Private Hospitals Association recently revealed that one in four psychiatry positions in public health institutions are vacant in some states. The National Association of Practising Psychiatrists has affirmed this, adding that the " , with psychiatrists feeling pressured to discharge patients prematurely, leading to rapid readmissions and a revolving-door situation in mental health inpatient units." This is also what recently polled by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists thought about the ongoing staff shortage in the mental health sector.

. He also shed light on issues hampering technological innovation among private hospitals and what he hopes the government could do more for the sector amid the ongoing crisis in the country's mental health system. A temporary telehealth item for inpatient services was provided during COVID-19 where psychiatrists were unable to attend a hospital in person due to infection control concerns or lockdowns.

They found this system worked well as hospitals generally had professional standard video conferencing equipment and a trained psychiatric nurse was present with the patient. This is opposed to outpatient telehealth consultations where the patient may be in a shopping mall on a mobile phone, i.e.

, an environment not conducive to the best clinical care. Private hospitals are always examining innovative approaches to care where it benefits patients. However, the main barrier to innovation .