Nova Scotia's mental health court will not have the benefit of psychiatrists when it hears its first case Thursday. 

The experts are holding out for a new provincial contract.

The president of the Nova Scotia Psychiatric Association has been involved in developing the province's first mental health court.

Aileen Burnet says part of this court's process is having a metal assessment.

"At times a disorder's not yet diagnosed, you may need an acute assessment,
or acute interventions for some treatment and treatment planning," Burnet said.
"That cannot be done without a psychiatrist."

Most of the province's psychiatrists have been without a contract for three years.

While Capital Health's chief psychiatrist says an agreement could be reached in 10 days, Health Minister Maureen MacDonald says it's not her top priority.

"I'd ask for a bit more time to do the work to get a new funding agreement in place, given that we are dealing with H1N1," she said.

A Justice Department official says operations won't be affected because psychiatrists will be enlisted on a daily basis.