Fresh anonymous accounts paint troubling picture inside SDPRIA

Current and former workers have contacted HSD corroborating allegations of a toxic work culture. Today the SDPRIA said it was working ‘collaboratively’ with the Health Services Union to address the concerns.

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Fresh anonymous accounts from current and former workers have added to concerns about the workplace culture inside the Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority (SDPRIA), with staff describing what they say is a toxic environment marked by overwork, fear, and poor leadership.

The latest accounts follow HSD‘s exclusive report on Saturday revealing that an “arm’s length” psychosocial review is underway into workplace culture and practices at the authority, with the Health Services Union expecting “significant” recommendations.

One former worker who said they had worked within the program at eHealth NSW and closely with Hunter New England Local Health District said the review was long overdue.

“Everyone who has worked on this program will have a story to tell,” the former worker told HSD.

“It is a deeply toxic environment that pays nothing but lip-service to their supposed CORE values,” the former worker said.

“Collaboration: Supposedly about building supportive workplaces, yet the reality is extreme overwork and an intense office culture driven purely by top-down pressure.

“Openness: Claiming to create a ‘safe, inclusive environment,’ while the ground reality is a culture of fear where staff are actively discouraged from escalating structural issues.

“Respect: Promising to value unique skills and treat colleagues with dignity, while the workforce faces executive arrogance, intimidation, and impossible workloads.

“Empowerment: Trusting staff to take ownership, while actually leaving teams completely unsupported to handle the chaotic fallout of a severely under-resourced rollout.

“The massive gap between what leadership preaches in their corporate brochures and what they actually practice on the ground is devastating. Hopefully, this psychosocial review forces real consequences.”

A second former worker said the experience had fundamentally changed the course of their career.

“I am one of those people who has been deeply impacted by this experience. The number of roles advertised for this program is reflective of the underlying issues,” they said.

“I experienced what I felt was a toxic and narcissistic management style, and I was unfairly scapegoated despite giving the role everything I had. The experience has had a significant impact on my confidence and career direction, and it is a step I deeply regret.”

The comments echoed concerns previously reported by HSD regarding workload pressures, understaffing, and workplace culture at the authority overseeing the state’s $2 billion Epic electronic medical record rollout.

Today, the CEO of the SDPRIA, Dr Teresa Anderson responded to a list of questions from HSD about the workplace culture at the Authority.

HSD asked the following questions:

1. How many formal complaints has the SDPRIA received from current or former staff since the program commenced?
2. How many staff have resigned from the SDPRIA or the program team since January 2026?
3. Has the SDPRIA commissioned any internal review, workplace assessment or external investigation into the program’s culture or management?
4. Has the SDPRIA received complaints alleging bullying, unreasonable workloads or psychological safety concerns?
5. What actions has the SDPRIA taken in response?
6. Does the SDPRIA dispute claims that staff have routinely worked excessive hours in the lead-up to major deployments?
7. What measures are in place to support staff wellbeing?
8. Is Teresa Anderson satisfied with the program’s governance and leadership?
9. Has the SDPRIA reported workplace concerns to NSW Health or eHealth NSW?
10. Has the SDPRIA been asked to make a submission to HealthShare NSW’s “arm’s length psychosocial review” into the SDPRIA’s workplace culture and practices?

Here is the full response from Dr Anderson:

“The wellbeing of our staff members remains our priority and we take all concerns raised by our staff very seriously.

“We are committed to ensuring they are supported, engaged, and experience a psychologically safe workplace,” said Dr Anderson.

“We acknowledge the genuine concerns raised and are continuing to work with our staff members on strategies to support them during this busy time.

“We are also continuing to work collaboratively with the Health Services Union to address the concerns raised by its members.

“The implementation of a program as large and complex as the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) is undoubtedly challenging and we thank our dedicated and skilled staff for their ongoing high-quality and collaborative work to ensure a successful transition to the SDPR for all of NSW Health.”

HSD sent the following questions to NSW Health:

1. When was NSW Health first advised of allegations concerning workplace culture within the SDPRIA?
2. Has the Ministry received any complaints, Public Interest Disclosures or other reports relating to the SDPRIA?
3. Has the Ministry commissioned any investigation or review into the SDPRIA’s workplace culture?
4. Does the Ministry have confidence in the SDPRIA’s leadership?
5. Has Secretary Susan Pearce been briefed about the workplace culture at the SDPRIA?
6. If so, when?
7. What actions has NSW Health taken in regards to investigating or responding to the SDPRIA’s workplace culture?
8. Does NSW Health believe patient safety or implementation timelines have been affected by workforce issues at the SDPRIA?

A spokesperson for NSW Health gave the following statement:

“NSW Health is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all staff across the health system.

“We encourage open dialogue and foster an environment where staff feel heard and supported, with many formal and informal channels available to staff members to raise concerns and provide feedback.

“All concerns raised are taken very seriously,” said the spokesperson.

“The delivery of the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) is a priority for NSW Health and one of the biggest digital transformations in the country.

“We are committed to supporting the SDPRIA and its staff as they lead this important work, including efforts to address genuine concerns raised about staff wellbeing.

“The SDPR’s implementation relies on the support and collaboration of staff throughout the public health system, and we thank all those involved for their ongoing commitment and dedication to ensuring the program’s success.”

HSD also sent detailed questions to eHealth NSW, the health minister, Ryan Park, and the secretary of the health department, Susan Pearce, but has not received answers from them.