Dr Nick Coatsworth has attacked threats from more than 200 of the 260 psychiatrists working in NSW public hospitals to quit next week, saying the dispute over pay could trigger a “specialist pay arms race”.

The NSW psychiatrists, who are seeking up to 25% increases in pay over three years, have already handed hospital bosses their resignation letters, which means that, in eight days’ time, they will leave their posts.

The State Government says it has offered 10.5%, the same as other public hospital specialists, with the NSW Minister for Health begging over the weekend for the doctors to back down before plunging the wider health system into crisis.

Dr Nick Coatsworth has also joined the fray, saying he cannot “endorse public hospital doctors threatening withdrawal of labour over pay and conditions disputes”.