The NSW Industrial Relations Commission on Friday awarded a special allowance to the state's public psychiatrists, providing a 20 per cent pay bump for 12 months. The psychiatrists have previously fought for a one-off, 25 per cent pay rise, arguing that their comparatively lower pay against other jurisdictions and in the private sector have created staff shortages in NSW. The state government has conceded the mental health system has been underfunded, but baulked at the union's demand for the one-off pay increase. A staff specialist psychiatrist's base salary starts at $186,241, topping out at $250,000 for experienced doctors. The resignations heaped pressure on the public health system, with some patients with mental health problems being given beds in general wards.